LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2051, 15 June 1893, Page 46

LADIES' GOSSIP.

— Four years Bgo 10,000 " fully qualified and duly accredited " Parisian washerwomen agreed to form themselves into a syndicate for the purpose of looking after their professional interests "in an official manner." At a meeting held by these laundresses it was resolved that they should establish a bourse or business rendezvous of their own, to which they might repair: in order to be hired for work, and to make their own terms with employers, after the manner of artisans and labourers at the Bourse dv Travail. Over this mighty concourse of lavandicres and blanehisscnses presided a washerwoman of renown, who addressed the assembly with the eloquent persuasiveness of a practised debater. At her instance the rate of remuneration per diem to be exacted by members of the association wa3 fixed at about the equivalent of Bs in French currency. The Council of Administration, it was decided, was to consist of "six washerwomen of irreproachable morals." Politics wore to be rigorously tabooed from all discussion held by the syndicate in corj)ore ; but balls and concerts were to be organised in plenty, their proceeds being applied to the formation of an assistance fund. Ten thousand Parisian washerwomen; and in perfect agreement 1 Such an announcement may, indeed, seem amazing, and almost past the bounds of j belief, for, according to Zola, the French bfanehisseuse knows no rival iv her command

vermilion inside, and free from any stro D S odour. They were served with a sauce composed of oil, vinegar, whole pepper, shalots, olives, and hard-boiled eggs, the anchovies themselves having the backbones taken out, and being shredded into narrow strips ; and this dainty, which possibly made a frequent appearance at the tables of Apicius and Luculius, is precisely the same anchovy salad which is served in every Italian restaurant with the addition of oil and vinegar, and which the French have appropriated as "salade d'anchois," and coolly claim as their own.

— In Turkestan every wedding engagement begins with the payment of a substantial consideration to the girl's parents. If the girl jilts her lover the engagement gift has to be leturned, unless the parents hare another daughter to give as a substitute. The plan is said to work well, and results in few divorces.

— Ibe Sultan's latest gift to the Eroperor of Germany consists of a complete suite of Oriental furniture in 10 pieces, each of which is superbly inlaid with mother-of-pearl, on which are engraved the arms and monogram of the Sultan. He has also sent the Empress two splendid vases of great value in blue enamel and silver. He has also sent a set of diamond studs to each of the young princes, and a fan-shaped brooch of diamonds, rubies, and sapphires to the baby princess. — The Duchess of Portland gave birth to a son and heir in Karch last. Tho little marquis comes into a world only too likely to spoil him. The golden spoon is all about him as well as in his mouth. Although only a baby he is already a personage. He ha 3 "given himself tbe trouble to be born," and now b.3 has only to go on taking the trouble to live to become seventh Duke of Portland, the Master of Wc-lbeck Abbey, Bothal Castle, and three other charming seats, a trut>lee of the British Museum, and the patron of 13 church livings. At the same hour there came into the world, in a court in Bathnal Gre<m, a poor pinched boy, made in the image of Master Bentinck, but with none of his prerogatives ; heir to the workhouse and the gaol, bumbledom and the board school, the doss-house and the dock. Yet what bad the two boys done to win such inequalities of treatment 1

Absolutely nothing. "The drift of the Maker is dark— an Isis hid by the veil," and " Poor Joes " and " Tom All-alones " we fear there will be to the end of time.

— At Grosvenor House, the town house of the Duke of Westminster, the precautions against fire are of the most perfect description. A hose is coiled behind the panels of the walls unoccupied by pictures at each doorway, to which access is gained by pressing a spring, allowing the spacious galleries to be flooded in an instant. All the most valuable pictures, such as Gainsborough's masterpiece, "The Blue Boy," and Sir Joshua Reynolds's " Mrs Siddons," are hung in their frames on cleverly contrived hinges, from which they are easily detachable.

— Princess Beatrice during her recent stay in Florence with the Queen conducted the choir during a service in a private chapel. — For the fifth year in succession the "old boys" in Canada, rescued from the gutter through the Boys' Home, 95 Southwark street, S.E., have sent to the Governor, Mr J, W. O. Fegan, a New Year's thankoffering out of their hard-earned savings in support of their old home. The amount is £230, making no less than £903 they have voluntarily contributed during the past five years " to give other poor boys the same good start in life." Another party of 100 boys is sailing in a week or two. The entire cost of a boy's emigration is only £10. About £560 is still needed to place these rescued waifs and strays in the Far West, where they will never need another farthing of English charity.

— At Claremont the apartments formerly occupied by the Princess Charlotte are still kept shut up. The Queen also maintains under lock and key the rooms of Prince Albert at Windsor, Balmoral, and Osborne. Her Majesty has given the same orders with respect to the Duchess of Kent's rooms at Frogmore, and since John Brown's death his rooms have been rigidly closed. In some of these unused apartments a brass plate has been put up, recording the fact of their late tenancy.

— The Queen kept up St. Patrick's Day, and wore when out driving a bunch o£ shamrock, as did also all the ladies and gentlemen of the household, and at dinner sham-rock-emerald brooches were worn. The little bunches of light -green three-leaved clover were sent over from Ireland by the Lord Lieutenant.

— A gown which created quite a sensation the other night was worn by the Vicomtesse de Janze at the select performance given by the Opera Comique, Paris. It was of pale mauve velvet, covered with a marvellous Oriental embroidery in gold and silver, amethysts and pearls being iutroduced in the fairy-like stitches of the beautiful design on a white satin ground. A high Medici collarette, also. Btudded with jewels , corresponded with the Kakochnickshaped diadem of pale mauve velvet, glittering with huge diamonds, which the Vicomtesse wore above her brow. The enthusiasm still reigning in Paris for everything Russian has created a perfect furore for the Kakochnick, or velvet diadem sewn with precious stones, which the ladies at the court of St. Petersburg wear at all official functions, and Parisian jewellers have received during the past season many orders for thesß eminently becoming and graceful ornaments.

— A feature of the spring hat is the drooping lace festooned about its brim. It has feathers, too; not the erect and selfconfident Grenadier Guards we have worn, but softly curling, shyly conscious baby tips, with roses playing at hide-and-seek in and out of their soft plumes. The spring hat is demure ; therefore it will bear close watching. It is likely to surprise us with Machiavelian propensities for deep-laid schemes to startle, cunning devices to astound. It promises eccentricites galore and coquetries irresistible. After all, it is interesting if it isn't becoming, and has a sweet, appealing grace in its coyness and quaintcess that will conquer its critics and disarm its disparagers. — There is now no limit to the luxury displayed in Parisian house-furnishing. A good instance thereof can be given by the bedroom which the young Duke d'Ayen has caused to be prepared for his lovely wife, and which she will occupy upon her return from her Mediterranean wedding trip. The bed is of hammered silver, and rests on a kind of dais covered with white velvet, whilst the hangings, chairs, and chaises-longues are of white satin handsomely embroidered with sprays of white heather and clusters of snowy violets in floss silks. The window curtains and " portieres " are of point d'Alencon, over satin of {the faiatest and most evanescent shade of sea-shell pink, hardly discernible beneath the messes of the costly fabric, but yet casting a rosy glow into the room. The toilette duchesse standing before the window is also draped with point d'Alencon over palest pink, and is littered with all kinds of bottles, brushes, flacons, and trays in silver encrusted with pink rubies. Banks of palepink dwarf azaleas are planted in silver " jardiniere?," and the rug is of ermine. A bathroom worthy of Venus herself opens from this ideal sleeping apartment. Wall*, floor, and ceilicg are of pink Carrara marble with a frieze of carved cupids gamboling among garlands of superbly executed flowers and fruit. The " tub "is reached by going down three marble steps, and is surrounded by groups of blossoming pink camelias and yellow mimosas, and a silver fountain in the shape of a dolphin replaces the ordinary douching apparatus. This room is lighted from the ceiling through a pink silk vellum, and at night tiny electric Rights fashioned like rosebuds turn the whole place into a bower of light. • . — The " time umbrella " is provided with a tiny alarm clock, half concealed in the handle, which rings with a shrill and piercing sound. The owner, before making a call, fixes the limit of his stay on the dial and places the umbrella in the stand in the hall, As soon as tha first note is heard he departs, and, of course, does not forget his umbrella. For careless persons who do forget umbrellas it is a happy thought.

— Queen Victoria narrowly escaped being known as Elizabeth 11. It was the Duke of Kent's desire that his child should be named Elizabsth ; but in answer to the usual and formal inquiry during the performance of the baptismal rite, the Prince Regent gave no name but Alexandria. Consenting to the Duke oC Kent's entreaty that, Alexandria should be associated with another name, the

by Miss M. Maitland, a most interesting reading on Miss Thomson, the artist, by Mrs Turton, a very humorous recitation from " Nicholas Nickelby " by Miss Cumin, and a most amusing dialogue by Mesdames Turton and Pym and Miss 0. Turton. Among some pretty dresses Mrs Sinclair-Thomson wore black, with sleeves and yoke of electric blue, the bodice being trimmed with jet; Miss Gould, pretty pale pink crepon trimmed with bands of myrtle green velvet ; Mrs J. M. Ritchie, grey costume with epaulets and trimmings of lace ; Mrs Woodhouse, black skirt and pretty pale pink blouse ; Mrs Boyd, dark blue with trimmings of tartan velvet ; Mrs Richardson (Timaru), black skirt and pretty shot silk blouse ; Miss M. Sise, black skirt and pale pink blouse; Miss Spence, goblin blue dress; Miss Gilkiaon, yellow silk with trimmings of black velvet and lace ; Miss Dymock, French muslin with chiffon trimmings ; Miss L. Roberts, black skirt and terra cotta silk blouse; Miss J. Gilkison, heliotrope dress, with yoke and sleeves of pink velvet; Mrs Monkman, crushed strawberry silk dress ; Miss Gwen. Roberts, pale grey with lace trimmings. There were also present Mesdames Stilling, Melland, Denniston, Woodhouse, Davidson, and the Misses Spence, Dymock (2), Mills, Roberts (3), Roberts (2), Gilkison (2), Maclaren (2), Sise (2), I. Rattray, Maitland, and several more.

On the same evening Mr and Mrs Oliver gave a large dinner in honour of Mr and Mrs G. Morris, from Napier. Among the guests were Mr and Mrs A. W. Morris, Mr and Mrs Sargood, and Mr and Mrs Roberts. On Thursday afternoon Mrs Garret gave a small musical, which was very enjoyable. Items were given by Miss Usher, Miss Garret, and Miss Wyat. On the evening of Thursday Miss Maude Keynolds gave a very enjoyable euchre party

game was indulged in till 10.30, when dancing took its place, and was kept up till a late hour. Miss Ziele wore a pink crepon trimmed with black velvet ; Miss Sise, a white dress ; Miss T. Stephenson, yellow silk with gold embroidery; Miss J. Gilkison, white silk covered with black lace ; Miss B. Scott, pretty delaine with pink velvet slesves ; Miss L. Mackerras, pale pink with bands of green ; Miss G. Roberts, French muslin witn blue velvet sleeves and empire sash ; Mrs Jowitt, pale green moire, with sleeves and trimmings of olive green velvet. To ensure publication In tbe forthcoming lime letteri ofconld reach the Witaosi office not later than Saturday night. [Descriptions of balls, &0., must be enaorHoS by either our own correspondent for the district or by tho Beorotary to the ball jommittee. The MS. of any correspondents who do not oomply with thii role Trill bo sent ta the georetary for endorsement prior i to ftjpoaiing.) ANNUAL BALL AT WAIWERA. The bachelors of WaiweTa held their annual ball on Friday evening, June 2. There was a go"od | attendance, and shortly after 9 p.m. proceedings were opened with the grand march and polka, followed by quadrilles, reels, &c. A description of dresses worn by the ladies may prove of interest to some readers. Miss Sanders (Balclutha) wore scarlet nun's veiling, low bodice, satin trimmings, fan to match ; Miss Sheddan ( Warepa), neat black cashmere, jet trimmings, watered ribbon sash ; Miss M'Kay, pretty dark costume, pink silk vest and sash ; Miss M'Kenzie, pretty heliotrope, velvet vest, lace trimmings ; Miss M. Hunter(Balclutha), checked tweed costume, natural flowers ; Miss Spiers, spotted muslin, white sash, fan to match ; MissLittlejohn, greyand black striped tweed ;Miss M Littlejohn, white muslin, flounced pale blue silk; Misses Anderson (Ashley Downs), white tastefully trimmed with pale pink, sashes to match ; Miss Finlyson (Clinton), black cashmere, white vest ; Miss Cameron, white dress ; Miss S. Cameron, pink bodice, dark skirt ; Miss Brooks, white jacket bodice, 'grey skirt ; Miss Gawn, tweed costume; Miss Craig, black cashmere ; Miss Irwin, brown costume ; Miss M Irwin, violet bodice, dark skirt; Miss IS. Irwin, white dress ; Miss Rogers, violet velvet, pale blue trimmings; Miss M Donald, muslin delaine ; Miss Fyfe, striped muslin ; Miss E. Fyfe, white, palo blue trimmings; Miss

of floral invective, and of " language " which is " painful and free," while they are notoriously known to "let their angry passions rise,"

— A shoe thai is uncomfortable from pinching may be righted by laying a cloth, wet in hot water, across the place where it pinches, changing it as it grows cooler for a number of times. This will cause the leather to shape itself to the foot.

— Miss Braddon, the novelist, one of the ladies recently asked by the editor of a newspaper to giveher notion of an ideal holiday, says she would chose " a fortnight at Venice — the last week in April and the first in May — spent half in a gondola and half on the islands, with a picnic basket, and a volume of Browning, Byron, or Shelley." Mrs Kcndal, the actress, wants to be "somewhere with flowers and sun, a good book, and my belongings playing tennis near enough for me to hear who'B winning." Mrs Lynn Linton, the journalist, asks for nothing better than a 11 quiet lodging by the sea, or in a very beautiful country, full of wild flowers and birds, of butterflies, and all rural sights and sounds. To be perfect there must be a fair amount of work to be done, and some dear children to make happy and delight in, both morally and physically."

— Gourmets will be interested to learn that a fish salad in which anchovies greatly predominated was a very niuch-praised dish at a luncheon party recently given by Lord Alington, at which the Prince of Wales was present, and it may be presumed that the same will become fashionable this season. The merits of anchovies are as yet hardly perhaps thoroughly appreciated in this country, but they are old lavourities abroad. The Romans not only ate anchovies in brine, but consumed them fresh, either fried or roasted. Those salted anchovies were preferred which were new, firm, white outside,

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Prince Eegent said : " Then give her her mother's name also, but it may not precede that of the Emperor." Whereupon the Princess was named Alexandrina Victoria, instead of Elizabeth, as her father wished her to be named, and instead of Georgiana, as the Prince Regent (if Grevillemay be trusted en the point) desired her to be called. It was, therefore, by an afterthought that the Queen of Great Britain came to bear the name which, through her virtues, has become bo dear to her subjects and so worshipful in every region of the earth.

—We congratulate Lady Knutsford on her convalescence after influenza, also on her reappearance at the Hampstead branch of the Children's Happy Evenings.heldin HaverBtock Hill Board School, of which branch she 13 president. The girls performed a little sketch, entitled "The Quarrel of the Flowers," and the boys gave a nigger minstrel performance. Groups of interested listeners were entertained in an ante-room with "fairy stories told by her ladyship. When we recollect that she is none other than the Margaret Trevelyan, neiceand playfellow of the great Macaulay, we can easily fancy that these fortunate children were listening, though at second-hand, to some of the old lore which dwelt in that marvellous brain, and was ever at hand to delight the little ones whom he loved so well,

"He was beyond all comparison," says one of these children, " the best of playfellows, unrivalled in the invention of games, and never wearied of repeating them. I well remember that there was one never-failing game of building up a den with newspapers behind the sofa, and of enacting robbers and tigers ; you shrieking with terror, but always fasoinated, and begging him to begin again ; and there was a daily recurring observation from him that, after all, children were the only true poets." Lady Knutsford, at the Children's Happy Evenings, is only Margaret Trevelyan, alias Baba, giving some part to others of what she received so superabundantly herself.

— What can be done with loving care and devoted personal effort, even in cramped city quarters, is demonstrated by Jean logelow in her London home. The half acre of ground which surrounds her house literally blossoms like the rose with verdure and floral loveliness. Miss Ingelow's visitors drink tea with her al fresco in the summer, and in winter she preserves the illusion as muoh as possible by setting out her tea-table in a large conservatory. Her love for and knowledge of flowers that abound in her poetry are inherent and unlimited.

»I remember," says a writer in a Home paper, " a ball which lasted till some time after daybreak, given by Lady Kinnoull at Hampden House, in Green street, Park lane, and I recall the riddance for ever from any kind of the conventional and utterly false idea that the early morning light is unbecoming. The rubbish that has been written about the bell-tale effect of the sun breaking into the ballroom by those who never saw it is utter nonsense. I never saw anything more beautiful than the light of the numberless candles blended with the sunlight upon the women at the end of that ball. So far from it detracting from their complexions, it added to their beauty. I noticed the same effect lately at a ball at Bridgwater House." The Empress Eugenic had, and still cherishes, a true Spaniard's taste for strong scents, her favourite odours being sandalwood and lemon verbena (writes . Lucy Hamilton Hooper in a delightful article in the April Ladies' Home Journal). Queen Victoria seldom uses any perfume except the homely and refreshing lavender water, of which large quantities are annually manufactured for her use. The Princess of Wales delights in that delicate scent known as wood violet. The Empress Frederick uses quantities of cologne water, especially in the daily; bath, which she, as a typical Englishwoman, never fails to take unless she be hindered by illness, employing in this way a quart of cologne water daily. The Empress of Austria prefers for toilet uses the delicate orange scent known as Portugal water. The Queen-Regent oi Spain has a delicious perfume especially made for her use from the spice-scented blossoms of the carnation. — Sometimes one has to pay for the glory of being a distinguished man's wife. Mrs J. R. Green, who married the English historian, aided him in his researches and wrote at his^ dictation sometimes as many as 11 hours a day. This brought on writers' cramp, but instead of laying down her pen Mrs Green merely taught herself to write with her left hand. She has written several books on her own account, and all with her left hand.