LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2010, 1 September 1892, Page 43

LADIES' GOSSIP.

A person's character can often be best told by the colour and depth of his eyes. People do not usually ascribe more than four or five colours to eyes, so that any that are not blue or black or brown or hazel are called grey Yet there are a hundred different kinds of grey eyes. You seldom see a stupid person with grey eyes, but the genuine grey is always found among highly intellectual people. Steel-grey eyes, with large pupils, denote intense feeling; blue-grey eyes are generally possessed by people with kindly hearts. You never find a mean spirit behind a pair of blue-grey eyes. Blue eyeß denote quickness of thought, and generally fine physical development when they are large and bright. A large proportion of our engineers, lighthouse-keepers, policemen, and army and navy officers, and many others selected for physical perfection have blue eyes. Hazel eyes denote musical ability and grace of person. They are very pretty eyes, too. The Empress of Russia, who is at present suffering very much from an affection of the eyes, consulted the celebrated Danish oculist, Professor Hausen-Garth, during his recent stay at Copenhagen. The professor advises ncr Majesty for the present to wear spectacles, but says that she will with care be sure to regain her former strong eyesight. The " useful " girl is not noticeable in any way, Everybody makes use of her and everybody likes her. She has no enemies and no lovers. Women like her very much, and men sDeak highly of her when she is brought to their attention in some way; bnt never think of her voluntarily. They appreciate her highly when she helps them out of a corner and thank her cordially, and then forget her until they need her again. She is not apt to marry, for men do not care for useful girls before marriage. She can sew, she oan get dinner if need be, amuse children, assist in getting up entertainments for other people to participate in, and she is an excellent nurse, and reads aloud well and sings a little— enough to rock a child asleep or help out a chorus. She is like the green "everlasting"— scentless and not beautiful, yet indispensable in a garden. — The wild-flower hat is the fad of the summer girl. It is large and bendable, with the entire brim formed of green leaves. The crown is a mass of wild flowers, dainty, delicate little blossoms of the wood, which are also strewn along the leafy brim. The inside of the brim is lined with a shirring of crepe the same shade as that of the flower forming the hat,

— One of the humours of the Republican Convention (writes the New York correspondent of the Argus) was the part played in it by women. To begin with it is an open secret that Mrs Blame is an implacable foe of Mr Harrison, who refused to promote her son-in-law, a colonel in the regular army, to be brigadier-general over the heads of a dozen seniors. In the next place there were on the platform of the Convention a halfdozen women, the wives and daughters of prominent politicians, who were about evenly divided between the two candidates, and who took it upon themselves to etart the hurrahing whenever the name of their favourite was mentioned. They are reported to liave been rather pretty, and the spectacle of a group of pretty women splitting their c[ainty throats with shouts and madly waving a silken flag or lifting in trembling hands the portrait of a statesman framed on £he handle of a new broom as an emblem of viotqry was very d musing to the crowd. There was, moreover, one woman delegate in the Convention itself— a married lady from the newly admitted State of Wyoming, where women have votes, whence they are very properly made delegates to nominating conventions. This particular lady announced that she was " a Harrison man first, last, and all the time." She seems to have borne herself sensibly enough, and served on one or two committees, but at the last moment the his f rionic instinct was too much for her, and in the scene attending the final vote she was conspicious with her silken flag and her piping yell. If you wish to make your last years parasol look as though it had been sent home qaite recently by one of the dealers in such articles, buy sufficient chiffon to trim it in the very latest style, Where Jace was seen a few years ago to glorify parasols this material is now seen, and all the fine parasols have a frill of chiffon at the edge. — Harper's Bazaar says:— "Miss Maria Morgan, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1828, died at Jersey city on the Ist of jane. For t;he last 22 years Miss Morgan occupied if not a leading at least a consDicuous position in New York journalism. ' Jt was perhaps the peculiar jqnality of the work undertaken by Miss Midy Morgan

which attracted notice. Understanding exactly what were her limitations — though an accomplished woman, speaking French and Italian fluently — she selected for her special task what she knew about most thoroughly, and it was the reporting of the cattle in the New York stockyards. No one had a more thorough acquaintance with blood horses, fine-bred stock, or dogs with a pedigree than Miss Morgan, and none had a more honest love for animal nature than this woman. While yet in her youth it was her perfect knowledge of hordes that gave her an important position in Italy. Victor Emmanuel depended on her judgment for the selecting and purchasing of English and Irish horses, and she made many trips to Ireland with the end in view of improving the Royal Italian stables. Coming to the United States in 1869, Miss Morgan at once found a place under Mr Henry Raymond and Mr George Jones on the New York Times. In the service of this paper, faithfully performing her duties, she remained until a month ago, when she was prostrated by illness. But a few days before taking to that bed which she was not to leave save in death, she was at the office of the New York Times, and, though suffering acute pain', was still intent on her work. To the writer of this she said, with wonderful heroism, that she was positive she was near her end, but with abounding courage added that she wished • to accomplish her duty to the very end. 1 " — The Independance Beige declares that since the betrothal of the Prince of Roumania to the daughter of the Duke of Edinburgh the latter has been the object of Mdlle. Vacaresco's vengeance. This lady, in spite of the entreaties of the Queen of Roumania, declined to surrender the letters from Prince Ferdinand of which she was in possession, and every two or three days she sends one ot these letters to the Prinoe's fiancee in England. The Duke of Edinburgh, according to the Independance Beige, is much annoyed, and has begged the Roumanian Government to take measures to stop this scandal. — The latest parasol is a canopy of flowers, arranged to cover the thin silk foundation. The most noticeable of these parasols is a mas 3of violet and pink tinted orchids on a lining of violet silk. The handles are unique creations, which may secrete almost anything, from a hairpin to a powder puff. A pair of scissors, a fan, and a small comb rolled out beforo the admiring eyes of the writer recently, and the owner of the parasol that held this collection was not in the least abashed. The badly mixed condition of political affairs in Roman families may be judged from the fact that a^ prince of the highest distinction is a chamberlain to the Pope, while one of his sons is an officer in the Italian army, a zealous Italian, and devoted to the King ; another is a senator, after having been a depute. A prince is hereditary Marechal dv Conclave to the Pope, thus having the position of Minister of Police to his Holiness, The son of this prince, who will succeed him on his death, or upon his retirement, is an officer of cavalry, and devoted to his Sovereign. A great many more instances ;roight be sighted to prove that things are very mixed. — For those people who wish to make their lashes longer and more regular, the following suggestions may be of use ; Examine the eye-lashes carefully one by one, trimming with a pair of scissors any which are split, feeble, or crooked. Then anoint the base of the lashes every night with a minute quantity of oil of oajuput on the top of a camel-hair brush. If this is repeated sedulously for a few months, the result is most gratifying. Beautiful arohed eyebrows are likewise a great detail of beauty and are not to be underrated. It is best not to trim the eyebrow, as it makes it coarse, but if it is desired to strengthen or thicken it, a few drops of cajuput oil may be safely rubbed into the skin every other night.. * — The King of Roumania during his late visit to England was literacy the guest of the Qaeen. He was put up at Buckingham Palace, and a State concert at Windsor was among the entertainments (riven in his honour. King Charles, who, unfortunately, was not accompanied by his accomplished wife "Carmen Sylva," is in the prime of life, courtly and attractive in appearance. By his ability and tact, he did much to bring about the solution of the Eastern Question, and there is no doubt that he is now firmly established on the throne which he ascended in 1881. — A costume well qualified to delight the heart of any young woman, married or single, is a shrimp pink cambric, ornamented with a flounce of old Bruges lace, the same trimming being used for a bertha and to set off the sjeeyes. The sash consists of a black and gold ribbon, fastening at the back with a rosette, from which fall long ends. The hat is a quaint pale-green straw, garnitured with cherries and lilies-of-the-valiey tied up with green gros-grain ribbon and bows. The sunshade is also in a green-toned satin, matching hat and ribbon. — The Mansion House show— held recently in London in the interests of the Hospital for Women and Children — was opened by her Royal Highness the Princess Christian. We are piously told (says a Home paper) that of the three states of grace, the greatest is charity. It is doubtless in view of this assertion that the greatest prices were asked for the frail blossoms by a large number of stallholders, and some very pretty stallholders too — smiling lips, and lovely purseful looking eyes. Men were pillaged right and left by these pretty footpads. All the sums that lie between a sovereign and a shilling weve demanded in exchange for bouquets and baskets of fruit, and, what is mote, obtained. There is nothing quite so persistent, be it flower show or bazaar, as the splendidly dressed sooiety lady who takes upon herself the role of shopwoman. She wants your' money. Your life you may keep, in order to come again another day. Of the many victims, we noticed one gentleman in particular, a well-marked descendant of those tribes who spoiled the Egyptians, and did well by it. This gentleman euocessf ully passed— fe,, pdoketrbuttoned — the anteroom, the hall, the drawing room, only to fall at last before the peremptory demands of two pretty damsels in the Egyptian room, flowerladen, who adroitly deposited all they held upon his gesticulating arms-^gestioulating, it must be understood, with all the fervour that implied he was devoid of "moni»h.'' " This basket is 205," said the damsel sternly,

" and the one you have taken from my sister is 15s. This little bunch of roses," she exclaimed, taking one from a passing saleswoman, "is only 53. It is in the cause of charity, remember." The gentleman with his arms full nearly dropped a basket. " You cannot reach your pocket, perhaps 1 " said the pretty girl politely. "See, rest your basket on that table." " It's not that," said the gentleman, with a forced smile. "No 1 " said the lady. "Maud, go and fetch mamma. She has some orchids this gentleman might prefer— two guineas; in stands." Then the gentleman fled to the sanctuary of the tea room, scattering the blossoms as he went, thus treading on roses as at a village wedding— a Jew vanquished by Gentiles, Christianity triumphant and Charity rewarded.

— Among novelties in hats and bonnets (says an American exchange) all the prettiest eem to be trimmed with antenna; or Mepbisophelian feathers. A large ohip hat with the small orown composed of a rough straw, has the brim slightly oaugbt up in front with wings of ilace and antenna: as the only trimming. A bonnet with a small crown and a brim of lace caught up here and there, has a bow of moss green velvet in front fastened with a paste buckle, and two Mephiato feathers rising up from it. A; bat, which in shape resembles a glorified sailor's hat, has large bows of purple velvet in front, with branches of cherries and nutß sticking up at one side. Another hat the same shape has two upright bows of ribbon placed at each side, which have the appearance almost of donkey's ears. A bonnet, whioh from the front appears to be nothing but a butterfly poised upright on the head, has the small crown composed of scintillating blue spangles, and the butterfly is made of the same spangles, with the antennae of gold wire. Another bonnet whioh is equally novel and extraordinary has a flat gold crown, which is encircled by a green snake, the head of which rises up above the fringe in a most startling way.

— Hints about veils :—

"A woman's veil is a very small affair ; usually it is Bcaroely a suggestion of a veil, simply a breath of something flimsy over the eyes and nose ; yet, upholding the philosophy of the importance of small things, it constitutes an important part in the street toilette. The appearance of the majority of women is improved by the tiny bit of illusion. If a woman dresses her hair perfectly plain and without the, bang, the addition of a face veil is a mistake,

" If the veil be worn with the utmost precision, fastened securely and drawji over the face and hair until it nearly flattens the tip of the nose, the use of that veil and the design for which it is created is abused. The artistic beauty of the veil depends upon the ease with whioh it is adjusted; it must carry with it the suggestion of having accidentally fallen upon the head of the wearer as she passed. ♦• The veil always intensifies the bang of the woman it adorns ; if the heavy bang be unbecoming, it is an easy matte;' to push back half of it, while the veil holdsjthehair in place. Branettes should never attempt tan-coloured veils or those in any shade of brown ; those belong to women of the blonde type. Th c •cobweb' veils are exceedingly ugly, and one wonders how there is any demand for them whatever, for they certainly render the face beneath them unattractive.

"It is a matter of science successfully to wear a veil in tints of pink, scarlet, blue, or lavender. Many women pick up a veil at the illusion counter, and because they think it is pretty, buy it. In nine cases ou.t of ten it detracts from thair own beauty rather than adds to it, and they would be better off without it."