ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS. LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 45

ALICE'S LETTER TO HER READERS.

LADIES' GOSSIP.

go outside, and on washing days I get up on the lines and the pegs out after the clothes are hung out and the girl chases me inside. At meal times I get on mother's shoulders and ask for a wee piece, and if she won't give it to me I take it out of her hand when she is putting it in her. own mouth. I think this will be all this time, dear Dot, but I will write again if you like and tell you how I came to get such a good home.— Yours truly, Billy. Invercargill, July 3. [Yes, Billy boy, I shall be glad to hear all about it, but the printer says if you do not use ink next time instead of pencil he will not " set up" your letter.— Dot.] Deab Dot,— l am in the Fifth Standard. Mr Hewat is my teacher, and I like him very well. When I wrote to you before I asked you for a name for a kitten, and you said Tibby, but we have one named that already ; will 3ou please give me another name for it 1 , and also one fora doll.— Yours truly, May Gilson. Riverton, July 4. [You are writing on American Independence Day, so you might call the kitten Yankee and the doll Columbia.— Dot ] Dear Dot,— l am in the Fourth Class at school. We have had a month's holidays on account ot the measles " Mother, my two sisters, and I have all had the measles, but we are getting better now. My sister got a kitten about a month ago from a lady ; would you please give her a name for it. I have two sisters yrhose names are Abigail and Maude. — Yours truly, J. Kenning (aged 10 years.) Invercargill, July 3. [Call the kitten Mops.— Dot.] Dear Dot, — The Rock and Pillar is almost covered with snow. We have all had the measles and the mumps, and the school was closed for three weeks. I have four brothers and three sisters, and two of my brothers go to school with me. The Taieri tiver runs near our place. — Yours truly, Alexander Ghey Robertson. Middlemarch, July 3. Dear Dot, — I have four miles to walk to school I have three sisters, and their names are Mary, Lily, and Jane, Lily and Jane have dolls ; please will you givo me names for them. We have a dog, and his name is Don. We have 10 cows. We are having very cold frosts just now. — Yours truly, Elizabeth Shore. Meadowbank, East Taieri, July 3. [You have a Lily in the family, so you might as well have a Rose and a Violet, even though they are only dolls. — Dot.] Deab Dot, — We have had grand fun, having had a month's holidays because of the measles. The measles are not very nice, but they are better than going to school. We have three cats and a kitten, and oh ! such a bonnie wee pig ; but as we have names for them all I shall not ask you to name them. I think I shall go and hear Rawei, who is coming here this week. I goto the football nearly every Saturday to see

creek. We have two cows and one calf. The names of the cows are Violet and Nelly, and the calf is called Lily. I have a jet black oat ; will you please give me a name for it. Dear Dot, will you please tell mother how to transplant rhubarb roots and apple trees. This is all I have to say this time.— Yours truly, Fern Hills, June 25. E. F. Anderson. [What better name could you get than Jet ? In transplanting rhubarb cat the roots with a sharp spade, leaving one crown for each new plant. Rich light soil is the best, and the crown should be scarcely covered with soil, but some old stable manure'should be put over each ! crown. The bed should be manured every year. In transplanting apple, trees be. careful not to injure the roots more than" can be helped, and be sure not to plant any deeper than before. Any roots broken should be cut off with a sharp knife, and the trees should also be pruned. Give a mulching of stable manure in spring time, and watch to see if- the wind shakes the tree ; if so, then pegs should be put in a few feet off, and the tree tied so that it cannot shake.— Dot.] Dear Dot,— l have three brothers and four sisters. lam in the Second Standard. The school is closed at present for a fortnight. We cross the Taieri river in a dray to go bo school. We have four rabbiters. We are picking up too. Dear Dot, do you know how to thaw a I rabbit when ib is frozen ? I will tell you. Well, if you pick up a rabbit in the shade of a gully, I would pick him up and pub him under my arm and carry him along a bit ; if he were not soft then I would take him to a rock and thump him till he was soft. — Yours truly, Geohgina Bennett (aged 12 years). Winfield, Strath Taieri, July 4. [Your methods are certainly novel. lam afraid you would get chilblains under the arm if you thawed many by carrying them in that way, and as for the thumping it would be very hard work, and would not improve the skin. — Dot.] Deab Dot, — I go to the Whare Kuri School, and I am in the Second Standard. Our teacher is Mies Baxter. I have nine brothers and one sister. We have four ferrets, and one of them is mine. We have one kitten. It followed our waggon home and we kept it. It was a miserable little object, but it is a fat kitten now. — Yours truly,. Alex andeb Caibns (aged 9£ yeara). Whare Kuri, July 5. Deab Dot, — I go to school, and am in the Third Standard. I have a bantam ; please will you give me a name for ib. We have a cow, and its name is Rosie. I have three sisters and one brother. Their names are Rhoda, Alice, Ivy, and Charlie. — Yours truly, Mina Weatheeall (aged 9 years). Roxburgh, Jnly 4. [Call the bantam Beauty. — Dot.] Dear Dot, — As my sister is writing to you I thought I would write too. I have a nice doll, it has dark hair and black eyes ; will you

have been disappointed ; if he had had no expectations he would not have been embittered. The fact that he is embittered argues that be has been disappointed. The reason of so many early marriages proving failures simply lies in the fact that the man and woman married their respective ideal instead of marrying one another. "Tell her I Jove her so," the man's heart sang to that perfect idea of woman's beauty. According as the man aspires, so is his dream, and some men meet all theirs in the homely women of their choice, who fills her allotted place with everyday goodness, and the -daily routine of her household duties. She, with her sweet household ways, supplies his every need. She loves him and his children, and they leave the mysteries to God. As a girl she was his embodiment of virtue, as a man his soul needs nothing more than it wanted as a boy. They have felt no need beyond each other, and they are happy with a happiness they are not conscious of possessing. It seems so right to them that they are one that they cannot imagine why their next-dcor neighbours, who loved one another once, and were married on the same day, should tie so miserable now. God help our next-door neighbours] They live in the same world, and are governed by the same laws, and live or die by the same food, and rise or fall by the same virtues and vices, yet they are no more like us than we are like the people in another world. We love so differently and are satisfied so differently, although we all pursue our own idea of happiness. •• Tell her I love her bo " is a simple, natural song to one man who always thinks the same. It is a passion and a power to another, and a danger to the woman of his choice, if he be a man who grows quickly, and is not to-day what he was five years ago. To such men different women have been the types of different stages of giowth, and only she is sure who represents the highest and the best. That women will ever come to see themselves as images of man's ideal is a question not yetans'wered. When women recognise that . the nobler man loves them as the symbol of perfection it will be happier for both, but it is a great if unrecognised fact in Nature that the mystery of -man's love for woman is that she is the veiled personification of all beauty, all.purity, all goodness, that charms and allures, and leads to the greater good beyond. In so far that a woman is this to a man, in so far she holds him. As sHe fails to realise bis ideal, just so far is he inconstant and cruel, for there is an apparent cruelty in the artistic nature that can only be likened to the cruelty of Nature herself— sweeping; away what she nursed and brought into life. If men will ask themselves and answer truly they will find they have loved women typical of their different stages of growth— that the woman who influenced them at one period failed to do so at another, unless she, happily for them both, has grown with the man,, thus realising his conception of womanly perfection all through. But how often it happens that a man loves two women at the same time — one by all the ties be made till " death do them part"— who is his cherished and honoured wife — the other with that other part of him, which is mind. One is his helpmeet in the daily life, side by side with him in bodily companionship ; the other claims his ideal self, gives him his inspirations, and teaches him bow to live. One he protects from the battle of the world — works for her, shields her, honours her with his name. He is near her to defend and wrap, the garment of his protection about her. The other explains to him the science of life ; she stands above him on the heights, to which he' looks tenderly, bearing the weight of clinging arms. " Tell her I love her so " the passionate voice still pleads, but it takes men and women who have lived to know what they ask, and could bestow. The tired, tossed, world -worn man has his old ideal; he has travelled in a circle to "meet his goddess face to face again— bis goddess idealised, for in place of the innocence of ignorance he desires the innocence of knowledge.. The self-poised, stately bearing is the perfecting of the yielding grace that once entranced him. The brow with the thorn marks seems grander and fairer than when garlanded with spring flowers ; the steadfast eye) that have looked on sorrow plead more eloquently than the expectant gaze on an untried world. Happy the man who meets her thus, meets her and knows her, acknowledging the. beauty of her aspect, seeing in the tempered will and the stong endurance the need of his early youth, the ideal of his manhood, the hunger of all his years. If he has eyes to see, he will love her as bis saviour, as the refuge from himself and the inspiration of his kingship, although she be only bis own homely wife who bas been thus revealed to him. To be that woman in a man's life seems enough good to attain, notwithstanding the contention by some that women have higher destinies than this. On Tuesday Mr 38. 0. Haggitt gave a large and delightful luncheon party. The table was beautifully decorated with camellias. Amongst those present were Mesdames Outten, William?, Tolmle, Spencp, Stephenson, Oarew, Mosp, and others. In the afternoon several young ladies j nned the party, among thtm being the Misses Battray, Tolmle. Moss, William?, and BtepheneoD. „ Oa Tuesday night'the Kaihanga Olub met at Mrs Ritchie's. Miss Gwen Roberts was in the ohair, but owing to the inclemency of the weather there was not such a large number present as usual, although a capital programme had been provided. Miss G. Roberts and Mrs Lindo Ferguson played a charming duet; Miss Lulu Roberts sang " Douglas Gordon " with great t ffeot ; Miss E. Mills gave two short recitations, entited "How Shall I Aoswer Him?" and "No Thoroughfare"; Miss F. Oargill told real ghost scories which she had had related to her; Mr 3 Melland gave a most amusing reading on "The Crinoline," she herself wearing a large crinoline and having her hair done in the fashion of 1830; and Miss Muriel Mait land plajed a charmiog piece on the violin. On Wednesday Mm Sinclair-Thomson gave a delightful little musical evening in honour of Mr Ooates, the newly-.appointed general manager of the National Bank, and as a farewell to the two Misses Oargill who leave for England shortly. There were about 40 present, Messrs 0. Rattray and George Sievwright gave a comic song, bringing in some v of ifae gaesta who were present, ana thus

fairy lamps. There were from 250 to 300 present, and there were some very pretty dresses worn. H. Mackenzie wore dark green silk trimmed with pale pink; Mrs Lindo Ferguson, handsome white brocade, with yellow silk train and sleeves ; Mrs J. S. Williams, white silk covered with black lace ; Mrs Ogston, pale pink silk, with white lace; Miss Reid, yeKow Bilk; Miss O. Ueid, pate pink - silk ; Mrs Macassey, red covered with black lace ; Miss Lulu Roberts, white and yellow silk ; Miss Site, yellow silk and white lace; Miss Farquhar, white striped silk, with trails of pink - roses; Lady Stout, pretty black drees ; Miss Tui Stephenson, wbite silk, with green grasses ; Miss J. Gi'kison, yellow, with chiffon; Miss Ziele, white silk; with- red shot trimmings; Miss Smith (Balclutha), white silk, with yellow silk .frills, yellow trimming* and sleeves ; Miss L. Robert?, pale pink, and red velvet sleeves and trimmings; Mrs Jowifcfr, charming pale b!ue silk, with yellow velvet trimmings; Miss Wise, p-.la heliotrope, and violet velvet cleaves; Miss S'mson, white Bilk ; Miss Mendelssohn (Timaru). yellow Bilk, with Watteau train; Miss E, Ulrich, white, with silver trimmings ; Mies Johnston, wbite cashmere, with bands of green velvet on the skirt, sleeves of velvet ; Miss Nixon, striped ganza trimmed with pink and blue ribbons, large pink sleeves ; Miss Williams, white silk' covered with frills of black lace; Miss Stephenson (Henley), black velvet, .with old gold trimmings ; Miss Bairon, pale pink, with green sleeves ; Miss Wright, pale pink and dark preen velvet embroidered with pearls; Miss G. R-ittray, grey velveteen; MisS Hepburn, wbite caenmere, with yellow trimmings; Miss Hogg, pale green, with pink velvet bands and sleeves ; Miss Patterson (Waihola), white silk ; Miss Muir, pink silk, with red velvet sleeves ; Miss Mackerras, pale blue; Mies Cntten, white, with pale blue sleeves ; Miss Elsie Jackson, pink nun's veiling, the skirt trimmed with green velvet, the bodice gathered and made with balloon sleeves of green velvet.

— Six thousand people sleep in the open air in London every sight,

memorate 25 years of wedded life, it is said to have originated as follows :— The monks of Oluny have left documents stating that Hugh Capet, King of France, in 987, visited the suburbs of Paris, coming there to receive an inheritance left him by an uncle, and found on the estate a " vilain "—as a servant was then called— who had grown white in his master's service, never wishing to leave him or to contract matrimony, and during the five-and-twenty years bad become as one of the family. On tbe same estate there happened to be a woman under the same conditions. Hugh Capet hearing this story from the steward, sent for the two old people, and said to the woman, "Your merit and virtue are great, even greater than that of the man, because it is more difficult for a woman to maintain these in servitude than a man. Now I should like to give you a prizd, and I think the best thing, at your age, will be a husband and a dowry; this latter is ready, and from to-day it is your*, if this man who bas worked with you for 25 years consents to take you as his wife." "But, your Majesty," murmured the old man, confused, " would you wish us to wed who have both white hair?" "It will be a silver wedding," said the King, " and I will at once give you the wedding ring." And so saying, he drew from his finger a silver ring set with precious stones, placed it on the woman's finger, and united the hands of tbe old oouple, whose tears were flowing fa9t with emotion. This story was repeated, and soon known all over France, and was received with so much enthusiasm that couples having been married 25 years were said to have their silver weddings, the golden wedding being only an imitation of the silver one, with the exception of being double the distance of time; — Ib is said that as the death of the Duke of Clarence left a considerable sum in the hands of the Prince of Wales for division amongst his other children, Parliament will not at present be asked to make any grant for the Dake of York. Some provision will, however, have to be made for Princess May in the event of her being left a widow before the death of the Queen or the Princess of Wales. ~- Emperor William X has his. ovrti

added to green, increases its intensity. Contrast of tone (or intensity)* gives rise to some very curious phenomena. If wo place two pieces of the same red) together , bnt one a light shade of tone and' the oth*er a deeper shade, setting out from the line of! contact, the light tone will appear lighter and the deep tone deeper, this effect gradually diminishing as the colours recede from' the line of contact. Thus, in viewing twf'j contiguous coloured objects, . differing in; intensity of colour,, we have nofr only the, contrast of colons* 'esplalped.! above, bat a!* 3 contrast of tone, both of which combined! tend to increase the apparent difference ;~between the coloured objects. ' — The story of Mary Dymofi k, who was tried at Stirling for child m urder, is a terribly sad one. Homeless, pel aniless, and hungry, she started to walk, ,c arrying her illegitimate child, to Ga&mona, where she bad lived as a girl. Here she b, oped to gain help. Daring the night,. 1 wbioh was dark and stormy, she missed ler way; and at • about half-past 2 sat dovm in hi >r wearinese and misery by the riverside at Sa If ron. The temptation to free her starving; i<shild from its suffering was too strong, andfl\ie threw ii into the river. One \would think that the law, which looked no leniently on the studied brutality of Mrs Montagu, would not be too hard on, this wretched girl, frenzied by shame tmd sorrow. But; the Lord Justice Clerk s< mtenced ber to seven years' penal servitv de. . , The Princess of Wa' res, during ber viaXfc tc the Pope at Rome the other day; was desired by his Holiness to sigrr. the Bacred Visitors' Book with all the niun es of her Royal Highness in full, and tb o Protestant Princess signed the book thus- —"Alexandra Caroline Maria Charlotte Loi jtiea Julia Princess of Wales, Kingdom of i 3reafc Britain and Ireland." The royal sig nature was attested by Cardinal Rampollo d*Ss Tuwlaro.. When the Princess of Wales wae* married at the King's Free Chapel of St. G' xnrge,. within the Oastk at Windsor, her 7£oyal Highness simply signed the register, "Alesanc'ra." — Worth's chea pest dress wosts £30. — One of the hardest trials to endure philosophically J £ the very coi union rednesc and roughness? a the arms whej i they are dls-

causing great amusement ; and Mr J. Oargill gave two very funny recitations. The evening finished with "Sir Roger." Mrs Lindo Ferguson looked ' very nice in black silk velvet made 1 quite plainly, and a lovely diamond crescent; Mrs Sinclair - Thomson wore pale blue watered silk trimmed with lace; Mrs Mackenzie, pale pink silk; trimmed with black velvet; Miss Gibson, shot pink and blue muslin, her hair being dressed very low, a style which suited her well ; , Miss Tni Stephenson, yellow eatin; Miss Stephenson, pale pink brocade; Miss Reynolds, black lace over light silk; Miss Gilkison, smart red brocade ; Miss K. Neill, pale blue, and tartan ribbons; Miss Cargill, old rose silk, black velvet bands; Mrs Sargood, pink and shot surah ; Miss - Rattray, blue and heliotrope; Mrs J. M. Ritchie, handsome white silk, with black flowers embossed ; Miss Webster, pink brocade; Miss I. Oargill, heliotrope Bilk-, with bands of velvet on the skirt; Miss Mills, white Bilk, with bands of black velvet; Miss Sise, pale yellow silk; Miss M. Williams, white lace,' with large satin sleeves ; Miss L. Roberts, pretty white silk ; Miss A. Roberts, pale pink, covered with black lace. Also present were Mr and Mrs G. L. Denniston, Mr and Mrs Boyd, Mr and Mrs S. 0. Reynolds, Misses Reid (2), Reynolds (2), Williams (2), Spence (2;, Dymock (2), and Messrs Stanley, Reid, Oaates, Brydone, Cook, Smith, M. Oook, Reynolds, and M'Lennan. The Truda brothers played in one of the rooms during the .evening. On Friday evening the University ball was held. The music-was very good, and was varied by the Truda brothers. The floor and supper were also excellent, and the hall was beautifully decorated. The stage was charmingly arranged as a drawing room in a bower of greenery, and ornamented with

T* annirs pnklloatlon Id tbe ftrthoomlnj lira* Mtttri mould reuh too Witneu offloe not Uter th»n B»turd»j night. WBDDING AT EVANS'S PLAT. Mr Charles Bennet, of Rae's Junction, and Miss J. Brooks were united in the bonds of matrimony oa Wednesday morning, 27th ult., by the Yen. Archdeacon Beaumont, at the residence of the bride's mother. The bride's dress was cream cash mere handsomely trimmed with cream satin and lace, and beautiful sprays of orange blossom. She. also wore a beautiful long veil and carried a lovely bouquet with long satin ribbons. Miss Emma Brooks was the only bridesmaid, and were a pretty cream nun's veiling trimmed with white lace. Only very intimate friends were invited to the wedding, and among the guests were Mrs James Bennet, mother of the bridegroom, in black Bilk and pretty black lace mantle; Miss Bennet, very handsome dark costume; Mrs P. Brooks, the bride's mother, also wore a dark dress, as did also Mrs George and Mrs James Bennet, junr. The bride's home-coming was celebrated by a great ball and party held at Mr James Bennet's residence, Rae's Junction. The bride was dressed in her travelling dress of brown tweed trimmed with brown fur; the bridesmaid, Miss Emma Brooks, wore her bridesmaid's dress: Miss Bennet, pink sateen, with white lace; Mrs W. Gumming, black silk ; Mrs A. Stevenson, black silk; Mrs 6. Cumming, striped grey dress; Mrs Richardson, brown dress trimmed with brown plush; Mrs Nash, black; Miss Milne, check dress; Mrs Brunton, black skirl;, pink evening bodice; Miss Mary Brunton, pretty grey trimmed with white military braid; Miss Fhillipps, black dress; Miss E. Fhillipps, grey trimmed with satin ribbon; Misses Williams (2), dark costumes; Miss Jessie Cumming, navy blue. Many other pretty dresses were worn, but the guests were too numerous to mention all—about 200 being invited. Miss Bennet and Mr G. Christensen supplied the music, and Mr D. Munro acted as M.C. The bride received some lovely presents, consisting of silver tea and coffee service, silver cruets, silver spoons, handsome silver sugar basin, silver teapot, many pretty vases, and numerous other articles. —Gladys.

— Speaking of the silver wedding ceremony which is, co often celebrated to com-

imperial way of using the telephone. He introduces his telephoned orders merely with the words, " I command that," and so forth. As soon as a chief of department hears these words he motions that his subordinates must at once leave thejroom. The significance of this arrangement is Bupposed to be that the obief is having something like an audience with his Majesty, and that it would be presumptuous for a person not summoned to hear the Imperial voice to occupy the same room into which its tones, are conveyed. At the end of the conversation the Emperor walks away without ceremony, and the chief with whom he has conversed must listen for five or six minutes afterwards to make sure that the Imperial orders have been completed. — A Viennese girl's education includes the regular school work until her fifteenth jear, after which she goes through a course of teaching in the kitchen under the instruction of some member of the family, or a trained cook, lasting from one to two years. As a result of this training Austrian women are said to make most efficient wives and mothers. They are as accomplished and capable as English women, as witty in soctety as Parisians, and are noted for their beauty among European women. — Among Queen Victoria's most cherished possessions are three bracelets. In these are mounted 33 miniatures of her grand-children, taken in infancy or early youth. Each picture is set in a narrow frame of gold, and, the settings are adorned with pearls and' coral. One of the most interesting portraits is that of the Queen holding Prince Alexander of Battenberg. — If colours placed beside each other are, mutually complimentary contrast strengthens, them and causes them to appear more different than they really are. Take red and green. Green, the compliment of red,

played In evening dress. . This may be overcome in time by the. following treatment : — Wash the arms every nigh); in water as hot as < can be borne with sOap, and rub. them vigorously with a nail-brush. Dry on a rough towel, and rub in any preferred preparation of glycerine, with^rosewater or cucumber jelly, until it is quite absorbed. In a month the anna should be smooth and white. , — How few women wear flowers well and gracefully. One woman will tuck a bunch of roses in her belt, or wear a cluster of violets in her bodice, adjusted carelessly and ap-. parently thoughtlessly, yet with such a happy appositeness in effect, while another woman will wrestle with the poor little posies until the very flowers grow faint and drooping- in discouragement, and then fasten them in the most unfortunate place and most ungraceful • manner. It is said thafcthe pretty woman who knowshow to do bewitchingly what the girl in tbe book is always doing, " tacking a rose in her bosom," is she who really loves tbe flowers, and o^e who wears tbe nosegay as if it did not belong to her, only wears it because it is the mode.' Flowers are. sensitive little spirits, and will not nestle down against tbe heart that does not love them. — In Japan the gentler sex monopolise most of the. attention of, society, while their unfortunate brothers 'are left to struggle for themselves. This discrimination begins early in life, for it is the Japanese custom to give baby girls the names of delicate and lovely plants or flowers, while boys are simply 1 numbered, and are .known as " first boy," • "second boy«" " third boy," and so on. • . — Florrie Bryan, the new Maharanee of Patiala, is a fresh-looking, Irisltbred girl, with a lot of go in her, and her Sikh husband is a smart Indian soldier, who rules the most important of the Sikh States— viz., 5887 square mile 3of country, with a population of over 1,600,000 souls. She is a lady of good education, and. well known to the leading Europeans in the Patiala State. — "You must never wash your face and hands with cold water, my dear child," said act old and famous beauty to a young friend. " It hardens and "reddens the skin, and ends by giving one the appearance of a dairymaid. I myself have made a point of taking every aaorning the following bath, and as I , have doae so ever since I can remember, I think that I may, .without presumption, recommend it:— Two pounds of barley, 21b rice, 41b bran; and three handfuls of sweet marjoram and -lemon verbena leaves are tied up in a bag of muslin, and placed in my, tub. Boiling water is poured over it, and after a quarter of an hour the bag is squeezed, so as to make the milky substance amalgamate well with the water. Oold water is then added until 4oe -bath is temperate, when a wineglassM of essence of verbena' is thrown in, and it is read/. J never remain is my bath over 15 minutes, and always go back to bed for half an hour after) I have taken it. At night I wash my face with q, solution of bicarbonate of soda and rose water. I put on a little violet powder, and then go to bed and sleep the sleep of the, just. Moreover, I eat very little butter, no pastry at all, and I drink nothing stronger than claret and water; or very weak tea." — Certainly the most startling thing in the way of , costume th»t has been seen this week (says alHome writer) was a yolk and balloon-like sleeves of silk plaid, which included dashes of purple, green, and yellow. It was a thing which n" one could pass without observing, and it "killed most other costumes. At the same time it drew attention to a tall, perfect plenty of fair hair,' a fair complexion, and pretty features, so that [people who began by looking at the drapery wound up by losing themselves in admiration of !the wearer— which, no doubt, was (contemplated by the latter from the first. :,",'. — Under the heading " Women who make home uncomfortable" an English paper says : —"The worship of 'things' is a passion that carries all before it. > Not the fashionable devotee to her gowns, the bookworm to his folios, nor the collector to his postage stamps or his picture?, is so absolutely a slave to bis idol as the, woman who worships her ' things ' and is called, for politeness's. sake, a 'thorough housekeeper.' We' all know how she lives.' She keeps her bouse, miscalled a home,' in spick-and-span order, from front steps >to backyard; her brasses shine, her carpets smell oft the wareroom,. and one can see his lace in her mahogany;;. she shuts out dust and flies, and with them- sunlight, fresh air, and all her family. She doe> allow the latter under stringent restrictions to eat and sleep within the walls, but. itr -is at; the cost of nearly every comfort,' and in the poorest parts of the house. One whom I knew actually kept her nine or < ten immaculate rooms breathless and dark, and lived with her four children, winter and summer, in one low room over the kitchen. Naturally the*husband and father, finding such few attractionsthere, stayed in bis place of business till bedtime. ' — A Dressy Lady writes :—" Here is an idea about big sleeves. We all know that' we cannot get any cloak on over the big, sleeves of our gown. Even if the oloak; sleeves are still larger, what of that when we have to push tbe jwhole of the under puff through the armhole of the outer one. That, ruins it, even if there is room for. it to spread after it gets<through.''Th'e cape fashion doe 3 not fettle the matter, tfor the oape, if it is. heavy enough for warmth, and has ruffles enough at the shoulders for style, orusbes down the dress puffs under it. That is where my idea comes in. Tbe dress sleeves should be lined with rubber— double rubber. A sore 1 of life-preserve^ business inserted right in the lining of thetleeyes.' And when you put on your cloak you let the 1 air out of the dress v sleeves, and going through the armholes of the oloak does not hurt them at all. , When the cloak oome3 off you blow up your sleeves again. Now do-you gee'? " — Observant and far-sighted persons distinguish at great distances a man from a woman, not .by dress, face, or figure, but by movements, ' The motions of the most graceful of men are ungainly when compared with the sinuous lines that most women instinctively assume. "' It often happens* that a single motion of a distant figure, and especially a motion of the arms above the head, will instantly determine for a trained observer the sex of the person.". If anyone doubts this, let him note the awkward; windmill-like performance of a man arranging his hair, and tbe graceful curves and def 6 touches with

which a woman aooompanies the Eame performance. — The most celebrated minuet of the last century was that danced on the eve of St. Catherine's Day, ■ November 1751, at the ball at the magnificent Palazzo Farnese, given by the Ambassador of the Duo de Nlvornois, on the occasion of the birth of the Dao de Baurgogne. The description of it has been preserved in a rare manuscript, with the praise of the most beautiful women, the mag- , nificence of their toilettes, and the value of their jewels. This ball -was a fancy and a masked one, and was attended by all the old patrician families whom pne meets everywhere at the present day. The Princess de Fiano wore rose ■ satin, Brussels lace, a . festoon of diamonds, ruble?, and emeralds acro3S the chest, with magnificent pearl ornaments: The Quchess Salviati was in a rioh hussar toilette, blue jacket, Russian for cap, small sword, diamond and pearls as buttons, with an enormous one in the cap. The Murchesa Patriz', X la dragone, in a toilette jonqaille colour, silver lace, scarf and hair covered with jewels. Marcheßa del Baffilo in white silk on whioh was painted small cupids. The Princess Raapoll in a majestic toilette A V jmpiriah, with superb lace and jewels. Two noble patricians, the Mirchesa Spoaa-Gancl .and the Princess Mobilia-Falconleri,, wore allegorical masks. The first represented Minerva, with cuirass and casque, ornamented with laurels and jewels, white dress embroidered with gold atars. Tb.3 second was a rUing sun ; the Princess's ohest was one masfe of superb jewels, out o! which jose a sun, whose golden rays were v reflected on the skirt, round whioh were the sigas of the Zodiao. -At the edge of the dress a silver moon, lit up by the san, left behind her Night, represented by the black body, constellated with silk. All the other princesses and ladies, says the chronicler, rivalled one another in superb costumes. Prospero Lambertini, who, under the name of Baneditto XIV, occupied St. Peter's See, went the day after the ball to the Palazza Ifarnese to see the coup d'esil of the rooms illuminated, and the Buperb decorations and paintings over which all Rome was talking. . , Home Fashions. » Flowers are mbre en evidence than ever, and are adapted to the costume*, &a, wore, in the most wonderful manner. You know baskets are generally preferred to bouquets as marks of friendship, and even on the stage dainty rush panisrs , with some choice blooms cunningly arranged so as to show off their full individual beautyi(tbe said beauty being thrown up by the delicate rlbbgns with whioh such pledges- of affoction are generously be-garlanded) are fast anperseding the gigantic beau-pot formerly derigueur. Fancy at a leading decorator's the other day I saw some peonies; (at -leasb I think that was what they- were, not being botanist enough to identify the grand Latin name they boasted) which, wera a combination of faint mauve and pale citron colour. They were very lovely, though just a trifle uncanny, but they were not artificial, like that ghastly green carnation Mr Oaoar Wilde tried to popularise last year. While on the subject of flowers let' me tell" you of the new « rose bowl," with a perforated lining, which, while allowing the stalks to. get at tne necessary liquid) avoids all ohance of the flowers ' themselves being stained by the water. OBTNOLIirBB 7 . Judging by the, Private Views, crinoline would seem to be a diminishing danger, and the best-dressed women appear to be wearing rather less full skirts than they did a month or two ago ; and though one hears rumours now and again at the picture shows, and the park, of an undoubted case of crinoline, it h very difficult to. discover, and almost, if not quite, as troublesome to find the person who saw it in, or on, the flesh— in short, something like a ghoat, which is always seen by a friend of the speaker's, never by that person himself 1 Certainly, judging by the description of the luggage some adventurous females are taking to the Chicago Exhibition, it will have to be an unknown quantity there. 1 heard of one damsel the other day who boasted that she was going "to do" the Exhibition with a hand portmanteau and two dresses, one off and one on ! Fanoy that in America, whence come -the Saratoga trunks 1 I only trust, as the old Bong "said, that that won'c be put down as " English, so (English you knowl" .1 always admire people who travel on the hand-bag prinoiple, but I never desire to travel with the an. * THE OBAZB FOB BBOWS HOIiLAHD. What a craze brown' bolland has become 1 Beery second woman saems. to have " gone mad in linen," though, unlike Tilburina's confidante, it is not " white " linen. Here is one I saw tho other day. It consisted of a "bell" skirt, with ,a three-quarter jacket, opea, of course, over a cross-over blouse of soft black Sarah, with a folded waistbelt of the same, wilb revers, but low coat sleeves ; for which relief much thanks. Those exaggerated sleeves are too terrible! The same O3tume is worn in a houseboat with washing silk bl luses of all kinds,, with a bow tie, and the folded sash of black Surah, a little sailor hat with a ribbon to match', the vest of the day completing the costume. The same dress is made in white drill, but it eeemg neither bo cool nor so workmanlike as the brown holland. Veils promise to be important features in our toilets this season, and many are the different makes. Tx> my mind none comes up to the Boft tulle -with chenille spote, which now axe generally arranged as a border, but some persina edge theirs with rows of narrow tebe ribboa and velvet edgings, which may be chic, but ;are undoubtedly tryiDg. Milliners are trying very bard to introduce shaped veils, which are made up either rounded orl at the top and gathered into a caser, or else are shaped at the bottom. This is a matter of opinion, for the practical outcome is pretty much the same in both cases. Colours are unusually loud this seaeon. Ido not know if it is a reaction from the faint, delioate tones bo popular with the aesthetic folk, but certainly the fashionable combinations strike one as crude.. No, I do not think tha present fashions pretty or graceful, and my advice to you is, get as few olothes as you possibly can, for a reaotion is bound tot set In, and when it does it will be thorough, I can promise you. We are nothing if not artistic nowadays, bo it is physically impossible that' we can go on distorting our outlines as we do at present. An hourglass Ul not precisely the. moat perfect

form, yet that is what we seem to be emulating with our expansive sleeves and shoulder puff*, and our stiflened-out skirts ; but then an hourglass has a redeeming carve or two, and we have absolutely none if fashionably attired.— " Elspbth," in the Glasgow Citizen. HOME INTfiEEBTS. Oatmeal Cakes (By request).— Two cups oatmeal, one tablespoonful dripping, one teaspoonful each of salt and baking powder, one cup hot water. Pour the water over the dripping, stir in the meal, &c, work into a stiff dough, and roll out very thin ; cub into four, bake on a hot girdle or in the oven if preferred. Potato Scones (By request).— Two cups mashed potatoes, a teaspoon! ul each of salt and biking powder, one cupful flour ; well rub together, mix with nearly a cup of milk, roll out, spread with dripping, fold, and repeat twice, cut in squares, and bake in oven or on girdle. 1 Rissoles.— These may be made from the remains of almost any kind of meat or fish ; but when a mixture of meats, such as veal and ham, or chicken and tongue, is to be had, the rissoles are especially delicate and dainty. Chop the meat, whatever kind or kinds are being used, just as finely as possible ; then mix it with one quarter its weight in flae breadcrumbs, season it well with salt, pepper, and other appropriate seasonings, moisten it with a little good gravy or warmed butter, bind together with beaten egg, and then when the various ingredients are thoroughly blended make up the preparation into tiny round balls. Have ready som« rich light pastry rolled out very thin. Stamp this out into tiny rounds about 2£in in diameter, and enclose within every two of these a ball of the savoury mince; moisten the edges with cold water, press them firmly together, then dip the rissoles in beaten egg, sprinkle with fine breadcrumbs, and fry in plenty of boiling fat until coloured a golden brown. Drain well, aud serve light, dry, and puffy, piled up Mgh oa a hot napkin, or fancy dish paper, tastefully | and plentifully garnished with sprigs of parsley. Croquettes. — These are made in exactly the same manner as the above, minus the pastry. When the balls are ready dip them entirely in beaten egg, roll them lightly in fine breadcrumbs, and fry as already directed. Sarve orisp and dry, accompanied by some good brown gravy in a tureen. Gingerbread.— lngredients : Two pounds of flour, lib treacle, ilb butter, fib sugar, one teaspoonful of ground Ringer, one egg, one teaspoonful of soda, half a pint of milk. Sift the flour into a basin and rub in the butter ; add the ginger, treacle, and sugar, and mix well; put the carbonate of soda into the milk, mixing it smoothly, and add the egg well beaten; add this to the dry ingredients, working the whole into a paste. Place in a buttered tin and bake for an hoar. Monday's Pudding.— Cat the remains of cold plum pudding into finger pieces ; soak in a little brandy (may be omitted), and then lay them cross-barred in a mould until filled. Make a custard and fill up the mould, lie it in a doth, and boil or steam an hour. Serve with a custard poured over, to whioh may be added a spoonful of brandy. Steamed Mutton Chops —Steam 31b mutton chops for three hoars. Take them up and dredge with pepper, salt, and flour, and fry brown in batter. Serve with tomato sauce.