LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 41

LADIES' GOSSIP.

• . • Now that the Duchess of York begina to rank as a leader of fashion instead of a copyist, her taste for early Victorian jewellery may (says a writer in a Home papor) bring about such revivals as the bfg brooch, long earrings, and portrait locket, which were all of them good for trade in their d&y. No ornamenf, save the nose-ring, which is never seen on women in these Isles, has been better abused than the earring, and its detractors have vied with one another in the quality of their adjectives when describing it. Y»»t the earring evidently supplies eomo indefinite, mysterious want of human nature, and was once worn by men of the b'gbest rank and endowments, besides women. Ifc will have its turns of popularity, on and off, as long aa mortal creatures bedeck themselves with feathers, flowers, laces, and precious stone8 n in addition to necessary apparel. Having diminished of late years to a mere speck, scarcely visible, its time for becoming much larger is about duß. A little royil encouragement, and plenty of heads would soon be sparkling with peardrop pendants of the astonishing length once favoured by cur estimable Sovereign. • . • " One of the latest crozes of ornamentation is the employment of fancy buttons of all sorts and sizes," said the head of ona of the greatest decorative firms in England recently. " We arenov? fiftirg up for a great rra^nf^c-

iurer, whose wares are reoommended on thousands of hoardings, a smaller drawing room, the walls of which are covered whoUy by thousands upon thousands Of buttons of every imaginable pattern, these being fixsd by meanß of a special cement. lam not at liberty to give the . name of the gentleman in this connection, font I may say that he got the idea from a femall oonntry lodge similarly decorated, and which is the property of the Dao de Nemours. The effeot «, I can assure you, very fandfiome, and, at the same time, quaint; and I have reoeived orders fot two hallways to be similarly decorated. 1 '.'Jproposot the oourt ball given the other day at Buckingham Palace, there has been some effort made by people who (eel ktejly %he degeneration of dancing to revive the Intereit of thote who are expeoted to dance Iby old court dances of the period when grace was a known quantity Among men m well as women. The result baa been a failure, and It wm hardly to be Expected that men— ladies are always acquiescent—who have not the energy or to waltz would learn the intricacies Jo? the pavan or minuet. That % change has •come, or is coming, over the spirit of dancing Is, however, observable to some degree, and iparticalarly in the arrangement of the programme of the State ball. For some years past the waltz has almost monopolised the programme, the proportion of "square" dances being very small ; but at the recent lull, when Herr Straus* arranged the programme, with the approval of the Queen, the programme contained alternately quadrilles and waltzes, concluding with a set of lancers. •.* The Dowager Lady Brroll's duties^ as lady-in-waiting during the last half of Jane were very light, as her Majesty was so much engrossed by the Countess of Erbach that M. her leisure moments were spent with ber, says St. Paul's. Those who have had the pleasare of meeting the Countess of iCrbtch will not wonder that our Queen finds ber a delightful companion. She has all the charm of manner of ber Jate brother, the refiowned Prinoe Alexander, and i«, moreover, one of the wittiest women and moat brilliant oonvercationalists who have ever visited, the English oourt. Although very good-natured, she is somewhat satirioal, and as a mimic ftbe is incomparable, and when drawing on ber large fund of anecdote for her Majesty's amusement, she will imitate the voice, innnner, and even the gait of different functionaries in a way which sends Princess Beatrice into convulsion* of laughter, and elicits emiles from our Queen. * . * At a recent loan exhibition (says a Home paper) some lovely specimens of rare lace were Bhown. Among them was a large lablier of Venetian ecclesiastical raised point. "My mother had rather a curious experience with that lace," remarked the owner. "She used it once on the front of a bajl dress, and as she was taking off her wraps in the dressing room a young Spanish lady rushed up to her adl sank on her knees before her in mute adoration, seemingly of the laoe. ' I had heard of people having a perfect paision for rare lace,' said my mother In narrating the occurrence, '.but I wae quite taken aback by the intense reverence and actual worship of my tablier. However, as l s knew it was pricelet-s, I considered the act of homage as a tribute to its beauty, until the devotee, rising to her feet, crossed herself and pointed to the design as an explanation. Although I knew it was ohurch lace, and had on it the various insignia of the Roman Ohurch, I bad never realised its really sacred character in the eyes of those to whom the •' enp " with tbe flattering dove above really represented the most solemn of tbe mysteries, tbe presence of the Sacred Host.' So it has never been worn as a decoration of the family ■inoe," added Mra . £ • . • Two Flemish children — boy and girl — of extraordinary size and weight, at present resident in St. Nicholas, Eaet Flanders, completely eclipse all previous records. The boy, Ctament Smedt, though only 15 years of age, weighs 4201b, or 30at. The circumference of bis body is 6ft 6in, and he measures 36i0 round the leg, and 28in round the arm. His Bieter Berths, though but 8 years old, turn* the soale at 2241b, or 16st. Id spite of their gigantic proportions they are remarkably ' aotive, and dacce and skip about with all the agility of other children of a similar age, and it is a remarkable sight to watch these immense children romping about the lanes with the other boys and girje of the village, towering so high as they do over the heads of their playfellows. Benha, like other girls of tender years, delights in nursing her doll, which seems ludicrously out of place and proportion in the arms of a young giantess. 3?hey are attracting great attention, and doubtless, if the parents and children are willing, will soon make a profitable tour round the world. • . • Of Madame Patti's recent reappearance A contributor to Modern Society says :—: — " But tbe event of the week was on Tuesday, when, after nearly 10 years' absence, Madame Adelina Patti reappeared on the operatic boards. As early as 10 in the morning people began to take up their position In Floral street, formerly known as Hart street, and the whole neighbourhood of Covent Garden was soon in a state of excitement. Police were sent for from Bow street to keep a way for the ordinary traffic. • What went ye ou,t for to see ? ' Well, in this instance, a matchless songstress, who, over 60 years of age, preserves not only her voice, but the face and figure of a woman under 30. What wonder that when Violetta tripped on the stage amid garish lights and herself a blaze of diamonds there went up euch a shout of welcome that the conductor had to stop the performance until the cheers and applause ceased? Madame Patti's Biogivg is only changed in respect of tbe abandonment of the phenomenal head notes ■he gave forth in her youth. As an actress Bhe is still superb, and in the ballroom f cene, where Alfredo insults her, and still more in tbe final act, sbe was rimpjy thrilling. I never witnessed a more realistic stage presentment of the phenomena of dissolution." • . • Tho Princess Victoria of SchloswigHolstein, whose possible engagement to Prince Maximilian of Baden is talked of, is one of tbe Queen's favourite granddaughters. It was no secret in court circles that her Majesty was willing for the Princess to bave been engaged to the late Duke of Clarence. Tho Duke, howerer, lost fate heart

elsewhere. The Princess Victoria is tall, handsome, accomplished. Princess Victoria's marriage to Prinoe Maximilian would furnish another double bond of relationship with Germany and Russia. Prince Maximilian is heir presumptive to the Grand Ducal throne of Baden, and he is connected with ths Russian Imperial House by his mother, tbe Duohess Marie of Leuchtenberg, who was granddaughter of tbe Czar Nioholas. • . • "I heard a funny little story qf the Kaiser's fifth olive branoh the other day," writes a Berlin correspondent In a Home paper. "The English governess 'had a birthday, 1 as the Germans say, and ai she is a general favourite in the Imperial household, everyone combined to give her pleasure. Her 'birthday table,' heavy with beautiful pots of flowers, was covered with costly gifts from Kaiser, Kaiserin, and the elder ohildren. At length a common little pasteboard box caught ber eye ; the opened it, and found a layer of cotton wool and nothing more. •That Ib from me,' observed Prince Oscar proudly. • But it it empty,' said Miss . 'Yes, it is empty to-day, but to-morrow morning papa is going to pall out' my first tooth, and the box is for that. That is my present to you.' And tbe next day Oacar brought the tiny tooth in reality, thinking to do his dear governess the greatest possible favour. It is as well to explain that here it is not unusual for parents to preierve the first tooth of thoir offspring. I bave frequently seen one set round with diamonds in a ring on papa's or mamma's finger, bat the custom I cannot consider a pretty one. Prince Oscar's governess has already had her present set in gold and placed in a bracelet." * . . Old s iperstitions respecting the wedding garments run thus : Married in white, You have chosen all right } Marriei in erey, You will go far away ; Married in black, You will wish yourself back J Married in red, You will wish yourself dead j ' Married in green, Ashamed to be seen j Married in blue, You will always be true I Married in pearl, You will live in a whirl I Married in yellow, Ashamed of the fellow ; Married in brown, You will live out of town \ Married in pink, Your spirits will sink. •„• " A carious freak of nature waa shown to me," says a writer in a Home paper, " by a lady friend the other day. Some time in February she purchased a pretty rustic table made of willow, which bad received two coats of varnish, and placed it in her little conservatory, intending it to hold a tea tray or work basket, or for other similar use. A few weeks ago she happened to notice twigs growing from each of the legs and crois* pieces, some of the sprouts being quite 3in long. She hae done nothiog since, beyond giving the table an occasional spraying from a watering pot, and the sprouts are coming forward in a natural healthy way, with no prospect of a cessation of growth, and turning an oidinary rustic table into a most graceful aud unique piece of verdure." • . • Perhaps the most unfortunately situated princesses in Europo as regards matrimony are the daughters of the Prince of Montenegro, for, being the children of a sovereign prince of Europe, although the smallest one, they are bound to look for husbands from a royal house. The two elder daughter.", Militsa and AnastaeJa, bave married into the Imperial family of Russia, their husbands being the Duke of Leuchtenberg and tbe Grand Duke Peter, cousin and brother of the late Czar. There now remain three more daughters, the Princesses Helene, Anna, and Xenia — respectively 22, 21, and 1G years of age, in addition to whom there are two other little daughters. The first two frequently visit-ed Queen Victoria at Oitnkz; thay were sojourning at that time in Nice, and her Majesty took a great fancy to these strikingly handsome daughters of the Albanian Mountains. They are very accomplished, having been brought up at tbe Court I of St. Petersburg at the expense of the late Czar. Almost equally unfortunately situated is the Crown Prince of Montenegro, 24 years of age this month, as there is not at present in the whole of Europe a single Princess of marriageable age of bis religion. It must not be imagined that the Court of Oottitje is still a savage one— far from it. Prince Nicholas is a rare poet and an accomplished musician, and he and his family make a sojourn in Cettluje very agreeable. ■ ■ . • Cutting up a £420 cake at a birthday ! party attended by several score of young men and fair girls jnst entering society has hardly created more than a ripple in New York Sooiety, so common are the extravant whims of millionaires. Yet such a cake was one of the features of the recent birthday party given by Mrs Alva Vanderbilt on the occasion of the social debut of her daughter Consuelo. Strictly speaking, the cake did not cost £420. It cost £20, aud that is a pretty good price for a cake, even if it was 3ft in diameter aud was carried by two men with difficulty. The value of £420 was due to the pres?nca beneath its frosted and beautifully ornamented crust of two diamond rings — one for the fonunare young lady whose pearly teeth found it nestling in the depth 3of the wedge which was cut off with a silver knife for her delectation, the other for some equally fortunate young man. The rings cost £200 eaoh. Both were clusters, and were specially designed. An inscription was engraved upon the inner surface of the i golden bands. Tho cako was aot in itself an especially ornate affair. The baking company which furnished it has, it is stated, made many others more elaborate and more costly. This cake was 36in in diameter and 14in in height. It was made of layers of pound cake and marmalade, the whole saturated with French cordials. Tne surface decorations were of rose 3 in snejar, and the sidts of the cake were further decorated by delicate sugar tr.ic>-ry.

Cj* Description? of bolls, *c . must be endorsed by either the Witness correspondent for the district or b) the sccrcUr.v to ihi; hail committee. The MS. of any corre"i>onJent« wlio do uot com [ilj with tills ralu will be sent to the secretary for endorsement prior to appearing.— EMM KLrXK. To ensure publication in the Corthcoiuiug lisue. letters should rricu the Witness office tf poaMblo i>n Baturdar night, but on do account later that Monday ni£ht. FANCY DRESS BALL AT OREPUKI. Dear Emmeline,— A most enjoyable evening was speut on the 9b ult. at a fancy dress ball, held in the Orepuki 11*11, for charitable purposes. Tb« ladies of tb« district provided the supper, and

judging from the way that the good things disappeared from the tables they must be well up in the culinary art. The hall waa tastefully decorated with evergreens, which showed to great advantage the bright-coloured costumes worn. Th« ball was openod by the grand march at 9 p.m. This was a pretty sight, fully GO couples taking part. The several characters were represented as follows :-Mrs 0. Griffith, as a Lady of the Eighteenth Century ; Mrs Howell (ttiverton), "Ma Mie Ro3ette"; Mrs Nelson (Riverton), "Shamrock"; Mrs Sorenson, "Rod and Black"; Mrs Wilson, "Frost"; Mra Warren, "Night"; Mrs Wiltet (Riverton), Tennis; Mrs Wilkins (Riverton), Lady of the Eighteenth Century ; Mrs Hack worth (Riverton), " Monte Carlo " ; Mrs Simpson, "Powder and Patches"; Mrs M'powall, Swiss Peasant. Amou,' the married ladies Mrs Turnbull lioked best as "Snow." The following ladies looked well in evening dress :— Mesdame3 Butler, F. M'Lean, Homer, Ralstou, Hanuing, Williams, II Reid, and Fergusson. Among the young ladies I think the honours of the evening must be given to Miss Whelan as "Queen Mab," and Miss A. Homer ass " Fire," both young ladies looking well Miss Turnbull appeared as " America "; Miss Kirton. "Helen M'Großor"; Miss Nurse (Kiverton), Empire dress ; Miss Homer, " Red, White, aud Blue " ; Miss Dallas, Fairy ; Misi Young, "Night"; Miss Robinson (Riverton), Girl of th« Eighteenth Century : M'ss Reichel, " Greenleaves Arithmetic"; Miss j Bonnet, ' Flower Girl ; Miss Taylor, Grecian Peasant ; Miss Ilirat, " Monte Carlo " ; Miss Berndston (Riverton), " Grace Darling " : Miss B. Hiret, "Snow"; Mies Merriclees, " Colleen 1 Bawn " ; Mis 3G. Hirst, Gip.<y ; Miss Towns, Hifjhland Lassie; Miss Forbes, "Marguerite"; Miss Walson, Highland Laaiie ; Miss Riddle, "Grace Darling" ; Miss Bites, "Mcrrie Maiden." The Misses Burke, Ilopgood, Ilowell, Pattison, Popham, Pearson, A. Hirst, Cameron, O'Connor, and R. Ukchcl were in evening dress Mr Hackworth (Riverton) caused a good deal of fun in the early part of the evening as " Mepkistqphelcs." Later in the evening he appeared as " Night and Morning." Mr Let, Roman -oldier ; Mr wheeler, Highlander ; Mr Burke, Clown ; Mr Riechel, "Ferns"; Mr Wil'ct (Riverton), Courtier of the Sixteenth Century; Dr Nelsog (liivertou), "Gent of the Future "; Mr J. Whelan, Irish Gentleman ; Mr Wilson, Spanish Brigand; Mr E. Griffith, Magpie ; Mr Kirton, Bobby ; Mr Turnbull, Clown ; Mr H. Kirton, Sailor ; Mr D. Whelan, Roman Soldier ; Mr J. Popham, Pedlar ; Mr H. Siremon, Svpoy ; Mr F. Popham, Swiss Peasmt ; Mr A. Lennon. Footballer; Mr N. Kirtou, Bushranger ; Mr J. Bemut, Footballer ; Mr Benuls:on (Riverton), Gcntlemun of the Eighteenth Century ; Mr Turnbull, Clown. Mr J. Whelan made an efficient MC. The music was supplied by Messrs H. M'Lean (pinuo), F. M'Leau (cornet), and Young (violin). The dancing was kept up till the small hours of the morning, whoa all went home well pleased with the nlsht's enjoyment, and one and all voted it to be the best ball ever held in Orepuki —Guest. ■WKDIMNO AT PAIIIA, SOUTHLAND. Dear Kmmelinb,— Our little community wa3 thrown into a mild state of excitement on the 7th inst., the cause being the marriage of Mr Henry Garden to Miss May Thomson, third daughter of the late Captain George Thomson, aud niece of the late Mr J. T. Thomson, chief surveyor, Otago. The ceremony was performed at "Cosy Nook," the residenco of the bride's mother, ihe officiating clergyman being the Rev Mr Christian, incumbent of St. Mary's Church, Riverron. The bride wore a dreas of delicate cream nun's veiling trimmed with beautiful lace and tpray of orange blossom, white veil and coronet of bride's blossom. The bridegroom's present to the bride was a handsome gold watch and chain. The bridesmaids— Miss Maud Thomson and Miss Leah Whipp— wore white dreßses with bashes of primrose Liberty silk. The bridal bouquet, considering the seasou of the year, was a very handsome one, and had evidently been a labour of love to the maker. A goodly number of residents assembled to honour ihe occa*ii n. After the ceremouy the conipany did full justice to an excellent wedding bieakmst, the handsome wedding cuke, which was much admired, being a real work of art. Congratulatory speeches weie delivered by Messrs Ham, HeitU-ot.-, Adamnon, and Bonthron, sen., to which tho bridegroom replied in a few well-chosen sentences. The hippy pair left by the afternoon train on their weddiDg tour amidst showers of lice, and carryiug with them the good wifahes of their uiany friends. The presents were numerous —Guest. BACHELORS' BALL AT BEAUMONT. Dkah Emmkline,— A bachelors' ball, to wind up the season of the Beaumont Quadrille Assembly, was given in the local schoolhouse on Friday last. About 15') invitat J ous were sent out, and strangers came from Lawrence, Miller's I'Ut, and the surrounding districts. The evening being line, a large number turned out to trip the light fantastic. About 40 couples took part in the grand march, but this number waß iucreasfd during the evening. Mr Jesse Donaldson made an efficient M.C. The music for the dance was supplud by Messrs Chriatonsen a.-d M Kay (violins), and dancing was kept up till 4 a.m. The bachelors are to be cougiatul.ited on ih« mauner in vvhhh they carried the affair out. Honours were pretty well divided betweetiMusCummingsand Miss Ciossanforb- He. On a ballot being taken amongst the bachelors, the first-named lady was awarded the honour. She was dies^ed in white cashmere with pale blue ribbons. Miss Crossau lookc 1 very pretty in white cashmere trimmed with white merveilleux satin, fan, glove 3, and opera cloak to match ; Miss Johnson wore f*wn Liberty silk trimmed with drab Liberty silk ; Mi«s J. Johnson, pale bine cashmere ; Miss Jesaie CummiDgs, p»le blue covered with fisherman's net ; Miss A. Cro»san, white cashmere, white merveilleux aatin, white flowers ; Miss Phillips, c earn skirt, pale blue bodice; Mis* B. Phillip*, black dre^s, pink Liberty silk front* Miss Kliza Johnson, brown drehs ; Miss Donaldson, cream dress, cream lace ; Miss Sutherland (Lawrence), fawn ih-os,s, shot blue silk front ; Mi-*s Dal/.iel, uavy blue blurt, white bodice ; Miss Cocgreve, pink dress, white lace ; Miss Graves, peacock blue cashmere, white lace ; Miss B^riu-s (Diiuedin), brown dress, Libetty silk front ; Miss Wilson, black skirt, pale blue bodice, white lace ; Miss J. Wilson, black dress ; Mi s Real, black dress ; Miss Gifiin, white gown, blue plush; Miss B>thwick, black dress, b'ue ribbons ; Miss S. Bothwick, black dress, pink ribbons ; Mrs Craig, black skirt, white bodice. Amongst the other married ladies were Mendames Crossan, Welsh, Geaves, Wilson, Cunn, Donaldson, and M'Corkiudale.— A Bachelor. BACHKLORS' BALL AT OWAKA. Dear, Emmei.ine, — Tho bachelors of Ow»ka held their annual ball on Friday evening, 30th ult., and as this gathering is looked upon as being the s >cial event of the ye^r in the district, the committee spared no pains in the endeavour to make jt even more successful than any previous gathering, and in this they were not disappointed. It was admitted by all present that it was one of the most successful and harmonious gatherings that has ever been held here. The hall was most artistically and tastefully decorated, ferns and shrubs beine worked into all sorts of charming and agreeable designs, while several flags aho decorated the walls surrounding the platform. To the close observer who has been in the habit of attending these gatherings, the fact of so many being on the committee year after year and showing no si?ns of joining the benedicts would go a long way in favour of imposiug a tax of some description to compel them to contribute directly to the revenue of our colony; but judging from the large amount of correspondence carried on on Friday night by means of thatuineteenth century question-popper, the conversation lolly, it would seem that several hai realised the folly of single life, and it is a matter of |uo wonder when bo many "stalwart lads aud boi nic lasses " were gathered together. The Vi'is; 1 ) di 1 their host to make everyone happy aivl jol'y, and Uin f,'-, went with a hum from start to finish. The c^te. ing was all that could be desire*!. Me-srs Koran, Latta, Morton, and Kane acted as stewtrds, and Miss Murray (piano) and Mr Carrick (violin) supplied the music, which was all that could be desired, and went a long way to make the bachelors' ball of '9s a pleasant and much-to-be-remembered oyeniDg ia theimemory of many. The following is a list of the dreaees worn so far as I could gxther, but there were several present I whose names F could not learn. I shall not I attempt to say who was belle where all looked bo j well. Miss Mason wore an evening dress of cream | Bua'a veiling with brown velvet sleeves ; Miss

Crawford, fawn costume ; Miss Todd, dark costume and lace trimmings ; Miss M'Phee, black, and pink ribbons; Miss Wilsou, evening dress of pale blue trimmed with lace ; Miss Findlater, black costume andwhue front ; Miss J. Findlater. dark dress ; Miss J. White, evening dress qf pale blue tiimmed with lace and ribbons; Miss Draper, pretty costume of navy serge ; Mis 3 Campbell striped grey costume, cream laca trimmings ; Miss K. Oarlton looked very nice iv a pretty pink evening bodice trimmed with lace, heliotrope velvet skirt, fan, etc., to match ; Miss Carlton, white eilk evening bodice trimmed with cream tlbbon, heliotrope velvet skirt, fan, etc., to match; Miss Vial looked very nice in a pretty evening bodice of cream silk trimmed with lace and ribbom, grccti velvet skirt, fan, etc., to match; Miss M'ln tyre, dark costume and white ailk front ; Miss Henderson, pretty maroon bilk bodice and dark skirt, fan and gloves to match ; Miss Peterson looked charming in a pretty cream nun's veiliDg evening; dre3B, with cream lace, ribbons, etc., to match ; Miss A. Paterson wore a similar costume ; Miss Meder, evening dress of black ; Miss J. Meder, dark costume ; Miss E. M«der, pretty black costume with white front; Miss Hall, pretty costume of red with white silk front ; Misa Field, white dress trimmed with lace ; Miss Gillan, dark costume and tartan sash ; Miss Horan, black with pink ribbons ; Miss Lumsden, pretty maroon costume; Miss Crews, pink skirt and white bodice; Miss E. Orcwa, pink bodice and delaine akirt ; Miss Uttaway, pivtty evening dross of heliotrope nun'a veiling; Misi A. Ottaway, eveniiiß dress of heliotrope nun's veiling trimmed with ribbons; Mi-s Ruth Ottaway, dark brown costume; Miss Duuni (Homahapa), browu costume with pink trimmings ; Miss J. Dunne, dark brown dress, maroon trimming*; JMi>n Waldie, pretty brown costume ; Miss Lngau, dchinc costume ; Mias J. Logan, dark costume. Thnre were seveial married ladies present, all in dark dreasoß. — Cynic.