LADIES' GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2171, 3 October 1895, Page 41

LADIES' GOSSIP.

• . • It is rarely, says a Home paper, tbat • daughter becomes her mother's mother-in* law, yet this curious coincidence does occasionally happen. A friend of mine, a colonel in the army, bad been a widower for asm* years, and resided with bis sons and daughters in Plymouth. At a ball given by the officers of hit regiment be met a beautiful young girl, with whom he fell desperately hi love, and, to make a long story short, they were soon married. At the year's end there was an addition to the family. Of course, the mother came to be with her daughter on this interesting occasion, and being a handsomo, well-preserved woman, the colonel's eldest eon became much attached to her, and before long led her to the hymeneal altar ; thus the daughter beoame mother-in-law to her own mother. Another strange relationship ia that of a lady who is mother-in-law to her two sißters, in a somewhat similar fashion to tbo above, thoy having married her Btep-Bons. I myself am ooaain to my own sister, she having espoused my husband's first cousin, and am r-econd couain to my nephews — her sons. • . • One of the finest collections of crown jewels in the world is possessed by the moat helplessly broken-down potentate -the Sultan of Turkey. Every Sultan from the earliest times has made a point of collecting jewels' and selling none, and thu», through the course of ages, the collection has become, enormous. The jewel rooms of the Turkish Bultan resemble nothing so ranch aa tho description of Aladdin's oava in the " Arabian Nights." '.* The following advertisement has ro< cently appeared in an Atneiican paper :— " Wanted in 100,000 households in America a willing, sunshiny daughter, who will nob fret when asked to wipe the dishes, or sigh when requested to take caro cf the baby ; a daughter whose chief delight it is to smooth away a mother's wrinkles, and who is quite as willing to lighten her father's oarea as bis pockofc ; a girl who thinks her brother quite as lino a fellow as some other girl's brother. Constant love, high esteem, and a more honoured place in the home guaranteed." ' . ' The information as to the Queen's movements — her walks, drives, dinner parties, and other occupations — Is supplied to the newspapers by a gentleman known as the " Court Nowßman." He writes bis account each day and submits it to her Majesty, who revises it, and often adds remark* of bar own. The paragraphs are then sent to the leading journals and nowß agencies, and are the only authentic court news issued. The information about the Prince of Wales is supplied by his secretary. * , • A prominent physician declared that hot water is woman's beat friend. It will cure dyspepsia if taken before breakfast, and will ward off chills when she cornea in from the cold. It will relieve a nervom headache and give instant relief to tired and iuflamed eyeß. It is meat efficacious for sprains and bruises, and will frequently stop the flow o£ blood from a wound. It 1b a sovereign remedy for sleeplessness, and in conclusion, the doctor asserts, " wiinklea flee from it t and blackheads vanish beforo its constant use." • . • The EmpreEs of Japan U getting more and more European in h»r ideas, and has fox some time past entirely discarded the national dreßS in favour of costumes made for her in Paris. At court ceremonials ehe invariably ap* peara in a handsome gown with tha regulation conrt train as we understand it here, which makes her look tinier than ever, although aha tries to add a cubit to her stature by wearing shoes with tremendously high heels. Tha Empress is a kind and charitable woman, and ia constantly bringing her influenco to beal upon her people on b«half of hospitals, asylums for orphan children, and similar benevolent projects. Some Home Fashions. Talking of iewel-waariog ia daylight, when are we goiog to have a surcaaae of THE SEQUIN MANIA? They pervade everything, in all colours, and almost invariably look vulgar and rupulaive. Their exasporating little tinkle and glitter grow unspeakably wearisome, especially on a hot day, for they have for Home reason a moat heating effect, and are only pardonable in white, cream, or mother-o'- pearl. Needless to Bay, these modest tints are not the ones generally chosen 1 The chrysanthemum ribbons aro very much worn just now, and are indeed extremely pretty. They ara oharming with the pretty lawn full fronts now generally worn with open coats. These fronts are usually made of very clear ombroidered lawn, and monnted on oolour, with quaint little turn-down collars of laco and batiste. These same turndown COLLARS AND LITTLE OUPPB to match of cambric and lace ace greatly affected by thoee who like neat dreeeing. You cannot think how dainty the effeot is with one of the new ingenue blouse?, drawn tightly in full folds under the belt at the waist, and finished at throat and wrists with, these demure little bits of ornament. Here is another dress seen on the river which is too pretty in ita dainty simplicity to be overlooked. The skirt was of pale tnr-quoise-blue linen, worn with a white shirt of unstarched nainsook, fastened with a turquoise stud in the front and at the throat, over thiß being worn one of the new botero jackets, o£ white open work embroidery, mounted on blue linen, and finished with blue bishop's sleeves with tiny nainsook and laca turn-back cuffs. A sailor hat of the new, rather wide-rimmed kind, with a blue ribbon, completed the costume. Sailor hate are sure to be in vogao on the river, for they are as pretty as they are convenient. The newest are trimmed either with quilled-up plaid ribbon, or, smarter still, with quilled-up white ribbon and white wings. One of THE PRETTIEST FROCKS I have seen for a young girl lately waa oE white crepon, made with a plain skirt, and a full all round bodice. Over thi* twaßt waß woru » little Marie Antoinette fichu of pale rosecoloured chiffon, with frills of pink and white chiffon, tied in at the waist with soft shot pink and white ribbon. The hat that went with it was white crinoline s>raw ot a quasi-aailor shape, trimmed with pink chiffon, and a trail of the new carnations, which a«s. a shade brighter than tbe MalmaigoT*, tha blue-grey-green of the foliage of this crettu

flower harmonising exquisitely with the pink chiffon. You know I always believe that tbe Draw-ing-room dresses pratty well fore6how what the season's fushions will be, and, judging by this test, It should certainly be A FLOWER SEASON. Flowers are everywhere, real for choice, bnt fc»ili»g these, artificial ones, so perfectly Imitated as to require actual contact before one realises their unreality. Orohids are the special favourites of the moment, both from tbe florist and the milliner's, and appeared on a great many court dresses. Undoubtedly, the belt of these dresses were the bimplest— worse lack 1 this by no means implies the least expensive; the simpler the toilet, the more perfect must be cut and material. A lovely drew, worn by a graceful, fair-haired woman, was of soft white corded silk, trimmed with white liese and white orchids, the long rich silk train being trimmed with the same, and lined with pale green of the exact shade of orchid leaves. She carried a wonderful shower bouquet of white orchids wbioh it was difficult to tell from the artificial, and tho toilette itself was lovely. Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Oobmg-Gotha (also of Edinburgh) came out at the first Drawing Room, though not yet quite 17, and wore a dress universally considered one of the prettiest for a debiitante. It was of white satin, brocaded with lilies of the valley, trimmed with quilled ruches of the gatin and knots of eanzo ribbon both on skirt Btd train, the bodice being lightly draped with the softest of silk muslin, caught in points with ribbon (natln and gauze) knots. Being fair and very youcg-lookitig, the perfect Bimplioity of her dress exactly f-uited the girlish freshntss of the yonng Princess — •'JElspeth," in the Weekly Citizen.