LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 42

LADIES' GOSSIP.

— Prince Oscar Karl August, a son of the King of Sweden, forfeited his nobility and all claims to succession when, a few years ago, he married one of his mother's maids-of-honour, Mdlle Ebba Munck, who, though highly accomplished, was of plebeian birlb. The couple have lived happily enough, their seclusion being enhanced by family joys which would have been impossible in the atmosphere of acouit. Now, however, the young man's uncle, the Grand Duke of Luxemberg, has made him a count, and " Couut and Countess de Wisborg " have been forced against their will to leave their muchloved retirement for a time and visit the Grand Ducal Court. Those who have seen the Countess declare that she is still more beautiful than at the time of her marriage, when she was considered one of the most handsome brides of her year. — Don't be a grumbler. Some people contrive to get hold of the prickly side of everything, to run against all the sharp corners and disagreeable things. Half the strength 3pent in growling would often set things right. You may as well make up your mini, to begin with, that no one ever found the world quite as he would like it ; but you are to take your part of the trouble and bar it bravely. You will be sure to have burdens laid upon you that belong to other people, unless you are a shirker yourself; but don't grumble. If the work needs doing, and you can do it, never mind about that other who ought to have done it and didn't. Those workers who fill up the gaps and smooth away the rough spots, and finish up the jobs that others leave undone — they are the true peacemakers, and worth a whole regiment of growlers. — "It is an unwritten ' law of the Medea and Persians ' that no single soul — gardener, workman, or what not — is to meet the Queen's chair or carriage when she takes her airings in the private part of Windsor Park. Should any employe happen to bo coming along even on such au erracd as to fetch the doctor for his wife, or a lotion for a sick child, he hides behind a tree as best he may till the Royal cortege has passed."

— Annulments of marriage are extrem«ly frequent among the aristocracy of Austrian and Kussian Poland. Divorces are, of course, regarded with disfavour by the Roman Catholic Church ; but the latter is very ready to dissolve the bonds of matrimony if there is any indication that the bride has been forced to marry against her will. It was on this ground that the Pope annulled the marriage of the reigning Prince of Monaco and of his first wife, Lady Mary Hamilton, now Countess Festeticz. The story goes that, with a view of placing their daughters in a position to take advantage of this disposition on the part of the church, many a Polish mother belonging to the aristocracy makes a practice of pnblicly slapping her daughter's face on her wedding day, in order that the latter may be able to say, later on, if she wishes, that she has been forced by ill treatment into the marriage from which she desires to be released. — From Paris comes the rumour that shorter sleeves are to be worn in day dresses, finished with flowing ruffles of lace, and Bhorter skirts are made for walking gowns. — Speaking of dress reminds us that one of the greatest dandies of his day, the eldest brother of the gentleman who married a daughter of the lady at whose country seat the late Duke of Clarence sang his song of love to Princess May, delivers himself of the following : — " A remarkable change for the better has occurred of late years in the dress of English women. Lord Alvanley said that if English meat were dressed by French cooks, and English women by French milliners, life would be worth living. In the former respect great improvements have been made, although four-year-old mutton and beef, with shame be it said, are now not often found. No one would believe the extreme tastelessness with which women

in England, except of the haute volee, were formerly habited. Unless among • real ladies,' you never saw a woman whose apparel was not in bad taste. Now, in an hour's walk in London, you will hardly meet an ill-dressed woman. The change is something incredible. Fashions which extend very far down in the social scale are, as a rule, very ornamental ; the defect being the'r too rapid changes."

— The news of Count Herbert Bismarck's engagement has (says a Home paper) taken the world by surprise. His fiancee, the Countess Marguerite Hoyos, is both a beauty and an heiress. She is half English, her mother being the daughter of Mr Robert Whitehead, the inventor of the Whitehead torpedo. Although she has spent most of her life in Hungary, she is more English than Hungarian in manners, appearance, and tastes; for she has always had English teachers and governesses. The Count is to be congratulated on his good luck in winning so charming a bride.

— Some persons having brought rumours to the Queen's ears that there may be hidden consumption lurking in the Hesse-Darmstadt family, her Majesty has ordered the matter to be strictly investigated aud looked into, and on the result of this investigation the fate of Princes Victoria depends. If tbe learned men agree that there is no lurking of decline in the Grand Ducal Family of HesseDarmstadt, then the engagement of Prince George to Princess Victoria will be at once announced ; but if there ,be auy doubt about the matter we fear the Princess will not get the benefit of that doubt. Since the death of the Duke of Clarence her Majesty has regretted that she did not insist on tbe two Wales boys marrying much earlier — each one directly after his one-and-twentieth birthday. Now the Queen tees what this delay has led to and she remembers the roundabout way in which she herself happpned to become heiress to the Throne ; and so far as in her Majesty lies she has decided at the eleventh hour to make up for the past, and see that Prince 3eorge is provided with a wife who will be likely to give us a king, if the report be unfavourable, then the young lady whose suit was spoken of some time ago as being favoured by the Princess of Wales will be the chosen one.

■ — The ulytie coiffure, the t-kye terrier tangle, and the classic lilleted coiffure are

the three most popular styles in hairdressing. The first is formed by parting the hair down the centre, waving it in soft, regular waves down either side to the soft knot at the back.Jmid-way between the nape of the neck and the top of the head. For the classic coiffure the hair is waved up from the back of the neck, back from the face, and twisted very loosely into a coil, from which fall two short curls. The filet is of the pretty enamelled ribbon recently brought out, and is tied at one side. The ~Skye terrier arrangemant, for which the divine Sarah is largely responsible, is composed of hair frizzed into a snarl, covering the forehead and ears and drawn into a don't-care knot at the nape of the neck. It is not so ugly as it sounds when framing a fair and youthful face.

— A good story is told of a very reverend and very dignified master of an English College. Although he was a serious man, he was also a kindly one, and when a youug man of his college fell ill, did all in his power to procure him good care and the best medical advice. Finally, the invalid's sister arrived, and as she was young and inexperienced, the worthy doc torendeavoured, by constant attention, to lighten her load of anxiety. She was most grateful, and confided to her betrothed, who wa3 at a distance, her desire that " the dear doctor " should perform the wedding ceremony. The student recovered, and his departure was arranged. The doctor was present to say " goodbye," and the young lady was full of gratitude. " Doctor," said she, grasping both his hands, " You have been so good to me 1 " "I have found great pleasure in your acquaintance," he replied, in his most dignified and courteous manner. " You have done so much for me, but I am going to ask you one more favour! Will you promise to marry me?" The doctor, amiable as he

was, dropped her hands, and started back in horror. "My dear young lady," he stammered, " I—l'mI — I'm afraid we shouldn't get on together 1 "

— This is what a man says about trailing skirts :—: —

" Why do you women weai long-tailed skirts in the s:rect ? You do not look graceful, and you risk getting all sorts of diseases. If you hold up that skirt and walk you are horribly ungraceful, for at the back you present a semi-uudressed view that is not pretty, while on your face are wrinkles caused by nervousness for fear you are not clutching that skirt tightly enough. Your feet look two sizes bigger than they are, and, altogether, you are an object only fit for derision. If you let that dress down, you sweep along with you piece 3 of cigarettes, tobacco, cigars, dirty bits of pat>er, and half, a hundred abominations that are strewn along the streets, and, as some of them may cling to you, you may collect some extremely undesirable microbes. Your frock looks dirty, and you 100k — yes, I am going to say it plainly— you look a fool.

" Long dresses were made for women who drive in the parks or who walk majestically about the house. No, you need not have an awkward short dress. All the great men dressmakers know how to make dresses the proper length for the street, and a tyrant among modistes would distinctly refuse to make a long skirt fora woman who expected to walk in it, and he would show his good sense. A woman looks pretty who raises her skirt just a little bit as she crosses a muddy street when she wishes to have it escape from the mud ; then site is a succession of curves, the arm describes one curve as it gently lifts the skirt, and the entire figure shows its best lines in this position ; but when it comes to violently grabbing a long tailed heavy dress a woman achieves nothing but angles."

— The manufacture of flowers and al3o of feathers for millinery purposes in France is a family affair. One family devotes itself to the making of roses and does nothing else. The man and his wife are equal partners, and the children, and sometimes young relatives, who come up from the country for that purpose, assißt in the work. Notwithstanding that France furnishes the largest proportion of these goods for the

world, there is not within its limits what is known as a manufactory for making them. Each worker is a specialist, and those who work with him are individually interested in the work. Nothing is scamped or Blurred. The prices which these flowermakiDg families are able to command for their goods depend upon tho originality and creative ability displayed, whether it is roses or orchids, pansiea or dahlias that they make. By ;the way, it is usually the women who furnish the original ideas, for in France marriage in no way interferes with a women's profession, but rather increases her desire and opportunity for pursuing it. Among the flower makers the commercial part of the business is undertaken by tho men.

— A few years ago, when the Russian Imperial family was in Krasnoe Selo, the Emperor, the Empress, and one of the Grand Duchesses were walking beside the lake in front of the Military Schools, and the Emperor, when passing tho tents of the School of Artillery, stopped, as he often does, to talk with the students engaged in artillery practice. The conversation was prolonged, the ladies began to grow tired, and looked about for a seat to rest upon, but nothing was to be had except some cannon uncomfortably placed at an awkward angle. The Emperor, noticing their predicament, slightly lifted the muzzle of one of the guns, and, laying it across another cannon, made a level and fairly comfortable seat for the Empress and her companion. After a while the Imperial party continued their walk, and a group of students tried with unavailable efforts to lift the same cannon. The Emperor turned to them with a smile and said, "You see that your Czar is stronger than you all." In the terrible Borki railway disaster the Empress and her children would have been killed had it not been for the herculean strength of the Czar, who also rescned many wounded from the wreckage of the train. ABIDE WITH ME. In church to-day we sang "Abide with me," The organ notes pealed out the dear old hymn ; The choir raised up their voices in sweet praise, " Help of the helpless, O abide with me !" I sang it with the rest ; and one was at my side Who sang it too. I glanced up at his face — His dear good face, so strong, so true ! I loved him so ! I was his bride. He turned to meet my eyes, and then he smiled. I knew his thoughts like mine had wandered back To that one day, about a year or so, When he had told me of his love ; And at God's altar, just a month ago, He made me his loved bride. Ah, yes ! I can recall that clay My heart deserted me and fled away To him ; and I let it go, Content that he replaced it by his own. We were together, he and I ; He, before the organ, grand and old, While I was seated by his side, Content to gaze, and near, and feel, I loved to watch him as he played ; His face revealed so clear the secrets of his soul. I loved to sit beside him, and to hear Tho grand old notes swept by a masterly hand ; I felt the music that he played— l knew 'twas meant for me ; My soul leaned out to meet his own — I longed to hear the words I knew were trembling on his tongue. Awhile he played, and then he paused — Turning, he met my eye and smiled, " This is for you," he gently said, And softly touched tho keys again— " Abide with me, fast falls the eventide ! " That sweet old hymn, that quaint refrain ! The old harmonium seemed to speak the words. He played it through — it touched my heart— The tears came crowding to my eyes. He turned and saw them, and again he smiled. "I love you, dear 1 " he took my hand And gently pressed it to his lips, " My dear, sweet love, abide with me ! " He took me in his arms — I could not speak ; I scarcely dared to breathe, I could but weep. He kissed my tears away ; he knew they were for joy, And folded me again unto his breast, " My little love, 'tis here you must abide ! 'Tis here your little weary soul must rest ! " I found that peace, sweet, perfect peace, And nestled closer to his side. — Aurora Lynne.